I wanted Kartik in the team: Dhoni

CHANDIGARH: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had asked for Murali Kartik in the side and he was delighted when the left-arm spinner played a crucial role in the team's eight-run victory over Australia here on Friday.
    
"I wanted him (Kartik) in the team and backed him. He repayed my trust by bowling very well," Dhoni said after winning the fourth cricket one-dayer to keep the series open.
    
Kartik came into the squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs in place of off-spinner Ramesh Powar and sent down a valuable 10-over spell of 1-48 in the middle of the innings when Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds were going great guns.
    
He also came on to bowl two overs at the death of the innings and did not let the Aussies get away. Crucially, he gave only two runs in the 48th over when the visitors seemed within striking distance of the target.
    
At one time it seemed that Australia would cruise to the target but Dhoni, who was also full of praise for Harbhajan Singh, said wickets pushed up the required run rate.
    
"The spinners bowled very well and got wickets to make it tough for Australia," he said.
    
The wicketkeeper-batsman also praised the old opening firm of Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar for laying the platform for the big score of 291 for four.
    
"We were not chasing well so we decided to bat and started well. The middle overs were also productive and there was momentum in the end," said Dhoni, who scored a 35-ball 50 and was adjudged man of the match.
    
"Robin (Uthappa) played very well to get us to the score. It was a total team effort," Dhoni said.
    
He made changes in the batting order by pushing Yuvraj Singh and himself up.
    
"We need to play aggressive cricket to beat Australia. If we get bogged down we can't make a come back," Dhoni said.
    
In a lighter vein, he indicated that captaining the side from behind the stumps was not putting extra pressure on him.
    
"I am only struggling with getting my voice heard by the boundary fielders," he quipped.
    
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said there were some facets of his team's game which left him disappointed.
    
"There are some parts of the game we need to work on. We were not at our best and I am disappointed," he said.
    
Nathan Bracken's last over in the India innings went for 20 runs while the 39 extras conceded by the Aussies played a major part in the eventual result.
    
"Our set batsmen could not finish the game off for us. If they had been at the crease in the last two overs, the result could well have been different," Ponting said.
    
He gave full credit to India for their winning performance.
    
"We knew India are a good side and will keep fighting. The series is now open again," he added.

    
Asked what was the turning point in the see-saw match, Dhoni said, "I can't single out any particular wicket. Getting (Andrew) Symonds and (Matthew) Hayden's wickets, Bhajji's over, Murali Kartik's over..."
    
Did he ever fear that the match had slipping through his fingers?
    
"No", replied Dhoni.
    
India managed to stay afloat in the series, which they still trail 1-2, and Dhoni said he was not thinking about levelling or winning the series.
    
"We are going to take it just match-by-match basis. We are down 1-2 and we need to play good cricket," he said.
    
Hayden struck a run-a-ball 92 that almost took the match away from India and Dhoni admitted, "We need to get him out."
    
He was also happy that comeback man Murali Kartik had lived upto his expectations.
    
"I was among the people who wanted him to be back. I think he was brilliant. If he had not done so well, I would have been at the receiving end."
     
Finally, Dhoni was relieved that today's match was broadly devoid of any on-field antics.
    
"Whatever goes inside, you should leave it behind when you cross the rope. You have to keep yourself calm and cool. I think nobody wants a game without a chit-chat but that has to be within limit and I think none cross the line today."