Dhoni: I took a chance but it didn't pay off

Birmingham: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Sunday defended his decision to refuse singles in the last over saying it was a chance that he took but didn't pay off as the visitors went down by three runs to England in a thrilling finish in the one-off T20 international at Edgbaston.

"In the last over, I missed at least two I could have hit over the boundary, it was a difficult task and one of those days when it didn't go our way. I thought I'm middling it I have a good chance but it didn't pay off," said Dhoni, who refused singles in two balls in the last over.

India end England tour with T20I loss

India's T20 specialists came a cropper as England beat them by three runs in the one-off T20I at Edgbaston on Sunday. The tourists, chasing 181 to win, needed 17 runs in the last over butMS Dhoni, despite hitting Chris Woakes for a six and a four, failed to take the team over the line. With the defeat India finished their England tour that saw them lose the Test series and win the ODI rubber.

Team India has every reason now to eye on World Cup 2015 title

New Delhi: Team India recorded its third win in as many matches it has played against England in the ongoing bilateral series between the two countries.

After the drubbing that the Indian team received at the hands of Alistair Cook and his boys in the test series, the change of format seems to be working wonders for Dhoni’s boys.

Though the World Cup which is going to be held early next year in Australia and New Zealand, team India’s preparation for the quadrennial event seems to be heading in the right direction. India has won a bilateral series in England after a gap of 24 years or 8808 days.

The victory by Team India at Birmingham means a lot for the cricket fans and also for the team as a whole. Dhoni who was being criticized for his defensive tactics during the test series, looks to be at his best aggressive stint as ODI captain.

The shorter format of the game seems to be a more suited for Dhoni as it involves quick decision making on the part of the captain. MS Dhoni  surpassed Mohammad Azharuddin as the most successful ODI captain after a convincing win at Birmingham the other day.