By IANS
Gwalior : Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was surprised by his Pakistani counterpart Shoaib Malik’s decision to bat first in the fourth One-Day International of the Indian Oil Cup here Thursday.
“I was surprised to see Malik opting to bat first. We would have bowled first on this track,” said Dhoni, after India registered a six-wicket win, also taking an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
Malik won the toss and elected to bat as Pakistan made a modest 255 for the loss of six wickets in 50 overs. Mohammed Yousuf hit valiant unbeaten 99 and gave the Pakistan innings a direction in the end.
In reply, Sachin Tendulkar scored a sublime 97 as India cruised home safely.
“It was a team effort and the best part was that we lost only one match in the series. When bowlers couldn’t do well the batsmen performed. That is what a team is supposed to do,” said Dhoni.
Tendulkar, however, made Thursday a special day. It was exactly 18 years ago this day that the batting maestro made his Test debut against Pakistan in Karachi.
It wasn’t a memorable debut for the teenager as he made only 15 runs in the first innings and didn’t get to bat in the second. But Thursday, the 34-year-old batsman made it clear to his critics that there was still a lot of cricket left in him.
“The most satisfying (point) was that we won the match and the series. And I contributed well into it,” said Tendulkar.
Tendulkar looked in sublime form and was set for a deserving century but for the sixth time in this calendar year fell in the 90s in the ODI’s.
He admitted: “I have this wrong habit of getting out in the 90s.”
Dhoni also expressed his disappointment at Tendulkar missing the century once again.
“It is very sad, the whole team is feeling very sad. Most of the cricketers retire by scoring six centuries and he missed six centuries. God only knows when he will get the (next) century and I am hopeful that he will do it soon,” said the skipper.
Malik was disappointment with the result. “We are a professional team and we have to live with it. We have still one match remaining and hopefully we will win the match. Every day is a new day and we have the Test series to look forward to,” he said.