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We’re in ‘catch-22’ situation: MSD

Knocked out of the tri-series, Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday said the dilemma over settling down into the right bowling combination has put the team in a “catch-22 situation” ahead of the ODI World Cup. India’s winless tour Down Under ended on Saturday after they bowed out of the tri-series following a three-wicket defeat to England at the WACA here. “We have to look at our attack keeping in mind the balance of the side. Two spinners suit us as (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja, and Ashwin and Axar (Patel) can bat a bit, while three seamers and a spinner weakens our batting, it’s a catch-22 situation,” Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony. “Playing an extra seamer weakens the batting and even leads to a slow over rate. The lower order batsmen need to perform,” Dhoni explained.

“When we started batting I thought we performed decently with the new ball, and a bit more runs initially would have helped. Good bowling and poor selection of shots led to the low score and 40-50 more runs would have helped. I don’t think the wicket played a factor but the English bowlers extract more from these conditions,” Dhoni insisted. England recovered from a top-order collapse to record a three-wicket victory and secure a place in the final, to be held on Sunday against hosts Australia.

“We made it difficult for ourselves and both sides battled with the conditions. If guys got themselves then there was going to be an opportunity. The guys showed that they are ruthless once they set in, especially Buttler and Taylor. Buttler is excellent and there’s more to come. We have gone from strength to strength and our bowling has done well,” skipper Eoin Morgan said.
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