Updated at: 0031 PST, Tuesday, January 25, 2011
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was disappointed that the batsmen failed to fire as a unit in the five-match ODI series against South Africa, which concluded on Sunday with the Proteas eking out a 33-run win in the final one-dayer to clinch the series 3-2.
"It's a disappointing series for the batsmen. Bowlers were getting the wickets, and the runs too. Overall, we haven't performed as a batting unit," Dhoni said.
"It was a good wicket but unfortunately, we kept losing wickets. We got out playing shots," Dhoni said of Sunday's match.
The series was significant as it preceded the World Cup, to be held in the sub-continent next month. "The learning before the World Cup is to keep wickets in hand for the last ten overs, the powerplay."
"Two warm-up games before the World Cup will be ideal," he said.
"It was a good learning before the experience, a good preparation, though, conditions will be different (in the sub-continent)," the India skipper said.
India were reeling at 119 for eight when Robin Peterson dismissed Piyush Chawla but staged a dramatic recovery through Yusuf Pathan's belligerent century and his 100-run partnership with Zaheer Khan.
"Any target is small if he gets going," Dhoni said of the marauder.
He also thanked the crowd in South Africa for turning up in large numbers.
"It's been spectacular. They come out to support good cricket everything, during our last visit here, during the IPL," Dhoni said.
