Dhoni says sorry

Skipper says sorry after champions exit World Twenty20 competition


India captain MS Dhoni issued an apology to the country's legion of fanatical supporters after the defending champions were dumped out of the World Twenty20 - and insisted they would bounce back.


Indian fans packed into Lord's on Sunday to make it like a home game for Dhoni's men, but they lost a tight tussle with England by three runs to crash out of the tournament.

Dhoni said that his team were sorry to have been knocked out in front of their fans, but vowed to bounce back at the next Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean next year.

"We are sorry for what happened but we can say we gave our best," Dhoni told a news conference.

"I think we have the guys who can handle the pressure, it was a day when nothing really worked for us."
Point to prove

"We can definitely prove a point over there (West Indies). We were never really up to the mark but in nine months time there will be another World Cup and that is the only good thing we can say now.

"Cricket never tests your character when you are doing really well. It tests you when you are not doing well. I think this is a testing time for us but it's not the end of the road.

"We lost in the 2007 World Cup and we lost in 50 overs, that was the worst part of my career. This loss is disappointing but still I don't think it comes near to the loss we had in the 50 overs World Cup."

Dhoni rejected any suggestion that playing in the Indian Premier League in South Africa this year affected his team.

"It is a demanding format because you play at different venues, it's not like you play three or four games at the same point," he said. "But I personally believe it's not an excuse."