Zaheer flops, Dhoni worried

Indian skipper MS Dhoni was critical of the poor efforts by some of his main bowlers after coming through anxious moments to defeat Afghanistan in the World Twenty20 on Wednesday. HT reports.

Indian skipper MS Dhoni was critical of the poor efforts by some of his main bowlers after coming through anxious moments to defeat Afghanistan in the World Twenty20 on Wednesday.

"We have to improve in a lot of areas," he said bluntly after the match. He pointed out that while the shortest format made it possible for weaker teams to give the fancied sides a run for their money, he was categorical where the problem was. "If a couple of bowlers are not bowling well then you have a big problem."

Zaheer Khan again went wicketless, bowling only three overs, as Afghan batsmen went after him. Luckily, Yuvraj Singh and L Balaji took three wickets each to help get victory.

India, who struggled in the previous two World T20 editions in 2009 and 2010, looked clearly unprepared for Afghanistan's accurate pace attack at the outset. Their under-fire bowlers then had to overcome the direct approach of the Afghanistan batsmen, who tried to hammer any delivery that was in striking range. With defending champions England next up, India have their task cut out.