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New Delhi: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday said that his side would be keen to keep the winning momentum going in the fourth one-dayer in Mohali on Monday and look to seize the initiative from Australia there by taking a 3-1 lead in the seven-match series.
"We cannot afford to relax. It is important we keep up the winning momentum. It is a good habit though its tough to maintain a winning habit," Dhoni said after India's six-wicket
win here.
Dhoni admitted that the newly-laid Kotla wicket was a difficult one to bat on but with Yuvraj in good form the home team were always in a comfortable position in their run chase.
"It was a difficult wicket to bat on but Yuvraj played an exceptional innings. He played his natural game despite the tough wicket," he said after India beat Australia by six wickets.
About the team strategy to chase down the moderate total, Dhoni said, "we just wanted to take the game till the end. With seven wickets in hand and one powerplay to go we knew we
would get the target."
"The plan clicked. Even though Yuvraj was out unfortunately, we reached the target comfortably," he added.
Dhoni praised his bowlers for restricting Australia to 229 in this tricky pitch.
"All the bowlers bowled well. It was a team effort and I am happy with their performance," he said.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting conceded that India were the better side on the day and said Yuvraj and Dhoni took the game out of their grip.
"They deserve to win. Dhoni and Yuvraj batted exceptionally well on a difficult wicket," he said.
Ponting said his side were 20-25 runs short, which eventually made the difference on the slow and low pitch.
"We were the first to use the wicket but we could not capitalise on and were 20-25 runs short," he said.
The visiting captain also expressed his displeasure over the change of ball twice in the match during India's run chase.
"There is no excuse for our losing the match but the umpires changed the ball twice and with the dew setting in we were in a disadvantageous position," Ponting said.
"We hope Mohali would be a better wicket and we will have to pull up our socks to bounce back into the series," he added.
New Delhi: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday said that his side would be keen to keep the winning momentum going in the fourth one-dayer in Mohali on Monday and look to seize the initiative from Australia there by taking a 3-1 lead in the seven-match series.
"We cannot afford to relax. It is important we keep up the winning momentum. It is a good habit though its tough to maintain a winning habit," Dhoni said after India's six-wicket
win here.
Dhoni admitted that the newly-laid Kotla wicket was a difficult one to bat on but with Yuvraj in good form the home team were always in a comfortable position in their run chase.
"It was a difficult wicket to bat on but Yuvraj played an exceptional innings. He played his natural game despite the tough wicket," he said after India beat Australia by six wickets.
About the team strategy to chase down the moderate total, Dhoni said, "we just wanted to take the game till the end. With seven wickets in hand and one powerplay to go we knew we
would get the target."
"The plan clicked. Even though Yuvraj was out unfortunately, we reached the target comfortably," he added.
Dhoni praised his bowlers for restricting Australia to 229 in this tricky pitch.
"All the bowlers bowled well. It was a team effort and I am happy with their performance," he said.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting conceded that India were the better side on the day and said Yuvraj and Dhoni took the game out of their grip.
"They deserve to win. Dhoni and Yuvraj batted exceptionally well on a difficult wicket," he said.
Ponting said his side were 20-25 runs short, which eventually made the difference on the slow and low pitch.
"We were the first to use the wicket but we could not capitalise on and were 20-25 runs short," he said.
The visiting captain also expressed his displeasure over the change of ball twice in the match during India's run chase.
"There is no excuse for our losing the match but the umpires changed the ball twice and with the dew setting in we were in a disadvantageous position," Ponting said.
"We hope Mohali would be a better wicket and we will have to pull up our socks to bounce back into the series," he added.
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