Mohali: Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan blamed the failure to read the dew factor correctly as one of the factors responsible for India's four-wicket loss to Australia in the fourth One-Day International (ODI) here.
Batting first, India had posted a formidable 358/6 but the hosts were let down by some poor bowling as Australia chased down the target with more than two overs to spare.
Dhawan, who posted his career-best ODI score of 143 runs, revealed that India decided to bat first as they were expecting batting conditions to be tougher in the second innings due to lack of moisture.
However, the decision backfired as the Indian bowlers found it difficult to grip the ball due to the dew which made things easier for the Australian batsmen.
- "So, of course, when you put such totals on the board, it's always pressure for the other sides and not our bowlers. We were quite in control till 38th over. But then the ball started coming so nicely and ... you could play any shot on that surface," Dhawan said.