Mahendra Singh Dhoni Wants India to Learn From England Experience

Birmingham: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he hoped the younger players in his side would learn from their time in England after a tour of mixed fortunes ended with a dramatic Twenty20 defeat. It looked as if India, who lost the five-match Test series 3-1 but recovered to win the one-day internationals by the same margin, would finish with a flourish at Edgbaston on Sunday. However, they finished on 177 for five in pursuit of a target of 181 in the lone Twenty20 international, with Dhoni unable to hit what would have been a match-winning six off the last ball, from Chris Woakes. 

A five-Test series was previously unheard of for this India team and the one against England was squeezed into just 42 days. "Overall, there were many youngsters on this tour," said Dhoni. "Five Tests are tough. None of our players had played five Tests (in a series before)." India, however, made an encouraging start with a drawn first Test at Trent Bridge followed by a 95-run victory in the second Test at Lord's. But a 266-run defeat in the third Test at Southampton turned the tide, with India subsequently innings losses inside three days in both the fourth and fifth Test at Old Trafford and The Oval respectively. 

"We did well in the first two matches, but the last three we could not do well," said Dhoni. (Match in Pics | Highlights | Scorecard) Then came the one-dayers where India, the reigning world champions, were a transformed team as they showed they will be one of the sides to beat when they defend their 50-over title at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand starting in February. "It was important to do well in the ODIs and we did do that," said the 33-year-old Dhoni, a rare figure among modern captains of major international side in that he leads his country in all three formats -- Tests, ODIs and T20. 

"It's important to learn from what we experienced here, at home to the West Indies and in Australia," said Dhoni, whose side will warm-up for the World Cup with a tri-series against the co-hosts, also featuring England, in January. "If we can implement these learnings there, we will be satisfied." Having been on course for victory at 131 for two in the 15th over on Sunday, India lost their way when Virat Kohli fell for 66 -- his best score against England in any format on an otherwise disappointing tour.