JOIN USIndia captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted that his dismissal along with centurion Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja tilted the match in favour of New Zealanders in the first ODI which they lost by 24 runs.
"We were in the game, right till the end, but the wickets of Kohli, Jadeja and myself hurt us. It was important that one of us carried on till the end. We could have targetted the runs at the end but we ran out of overs," Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
The skipper said that some of the batsmen played well but more important was to finish off the game.
"We had good time to prepare ourselves. I think a few of the batsmen played well today, but it is important that if you get a decent start, you push on to get a big score. It is a little easier in India to do it, but here you have to work for it as new ball is difficult to handle. If one gets out its important that it should be a good ball," the skipper said.
Dhoni however had words of praise for his bowlers who kept the New Zealand score under 300 despite going for a few runs initially.
"I think overall, it was a good decision to bat first. It had to be backed by good bowling. We didn't do well in first three or four overs, but then we came back well. It was important for the spinners to bowl with control. I was happy with the spinners as they were bowling at right width not mixing up too much. No point in trying to turn the deliveries," skipper commented.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum thought that 292 was a par-score against a decent Indian attack.
"I thought we had a par score and the way India bowled they restricted us to just below 300. Virat's innings was world-class and showed why he is one of the best in the world," McCullum said.
"Mitch (McClenaghan) did the job for us with the ball, and showed how vital he is to our side. It was good to see some partnerships throughout the batting. Ross and Kane's stand in particular was important for our side. I was pretty pleased with how Corey (Anderson) went as well. So pleased with the batters."
India will play five ODIs and two Tests, but no T20 Internationals, after the schedule was reduced, including one Test being lopped off.
But Dhoni played it down saying it was an administrative decision.
"I haven't a clue," he said to the no-T20s question.
"I'm someone who lives in the present. I always think about the stuff that's in my control. It's more of an administrative decision, so there's no point thinking why T20 is not there, why there's one test less than last time we came here."
Apart from Dhoni, seamers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma are the only other players from India, who played here in 2009, but the skipper said he was not too worried about that.
"Looking at how the guys are shaping up gives me a very positive vibe. That shifting over has happened very well. Overall I'm happy with how the batting unit has performed," said Dhoni.