Clearly not happy with the performance of his bowlers in India's one-run victory over South Africa in the first one-dayer in Jaipur, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he had not expected his best bowlers to get the pasting from the visiting tailenders.
"So many runs needed by their (SA) tailenders and you don't expect your best bowlers to concede so many runs (at the death). The bowlers need to do better in remaining matches," Dhoni said after the cliffhanger of a contest.
"In the initial overs (of South African innings) also the bowlers could have done better," he added. He praised all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for his fine performance with the bat and ball.
"Virender Sehwag could not bowl and we were short of a bowler. But Yusuf Pathan bowled well and Ravindra Jadeja all the difference today. He bowled and batted well," said Dhoni.
He also felt that his batsmen got the starts but failed to convert them into big scores.
"Most of batsmen got the starts but failed to convert them except for Suresh Raina, Sehwag and (Dinesh) Karthik. We thought we would crossed 300 but we could not," he said.
Dhoni said South Africa are capable of bouncing back into the series and his side will have to keep the winning momentum going.
"Both are good sides and they can bounce back. But it will be a very good and tightly contested series," said the home team captain.
South African captain Jacques Kallis conceded it was frustrating for his side to have lost the match by a mere but would have to regroup for the next match.
"Full credit to Wayne Parnell and Dale Steyn for taking us so close (to winning) but id finally did not happen. It is frustrating that we lost after it was so close. But we have to regroup for the next match," he said.
Despite the loss, Kallis said he was happy with his side's performance.
"I am happy with our performance. We thought India would score 300-plus but we bowled well at the death and then we were almost through while chasing. So it was a really good day of cricket overall," said the visiting captain.
