Dew became a deciding factor, believes MS Dhoni

MUMBAI: Spin has been India’s potent weapon, more so at home, but the Ravinchandaran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja combo leaked 68 runs in the six overs bowled between them as West Indies successfully chased down 193 to make it to the final of the ICC World Twenty20 2016 on Thursday (March 31).

And the disappointed Indian skipper MS Dhoni, in his post-match conference, time and again highlighted the difference dew made during India’s 7-wicket loss to the Caribbean side, saying that the conditions in the second innings made it impossible for him to rely on his spinners.

“It was a bad toss to lose. The first few overs when they started batting were fine, but after that there was a considerable amount of dew which meant the spinners couldn’t bowl how they would have liked to. It was coming on nicely and the ball was getting wet, so that was the difference between the first innings and second innings.

“The surface had some assistance for the spinners, it was gripping but in the second innings there wasn’t much in it for them.. Once the dew comes in, it becomes difficult for them to turn the ball. The seam gets wet and the surface becomes a bit greasy, so it comes onto the bat nicely. I feel we have seen that our spinners do struggle in conditions like these,” Dhoni said, acknowledging the difference an early start made to the all-important game.

Ashwin has been, for the longest time, Dhoni’s go-to man and the captain summoned him as soon as he could spread the field. However, his two-over spell cost India 20 runs and the offspinner was taken off the attack. Asked whether he was saving him for bowling in death, Dhoni said assessing the game situation, he wasn’t planning to re-introduce Ashwin.

“No, it was not on my mind looking at [Andre] Russell and the big hitters, and the amount of purchase there was on offer. That was not the best time for him to bowl. When the wicket is turning I like to take that gamble of keeping a few overs of the spinner so that if needed, I can make him bowl, but if not, I’ll waste that one over.”