India's stand-in captain Rahul Dravid on Thursday described his side's defeat against New Zealand in the TVS Cup triseries cricket match in Cuttack as a "collective failure".
"I don't want to blame the bowlers or batsmen. When we win, it's a victory of the entire team. Similarly, our defeat is due to the failure of the entire team," Dravid said at the post-match press conference.
"It is due to the dew that we failed to score another 20-25 runs. The dew factor has indeed played a crucial role. Even when we fielded, our bowlers could not grip the ball properly, as it was moist," he said.
He added that it "is not easy to bowl in these circumstances".
He also said the "absence of a fifth bowler made things difficult in the end".
But he defended his decision to play three spinners, saying he was guided by the low bounce of the wicket.
Dravid said the defeat had made India's next two matches very vital. "We have to put up a better performance in the next two matches at Bangalore and Hyderabad. We have to play well in these games if we are to make the final at the Eden Gardens on November 18."
Kiwi captain Stephen Fleming was a relieved man, as Thursday's victory had come after two defeats.
"We seem to bounce back in must win situations," said Fleming. "It was disappointing to lose two matches to Australia."
Fleming said his team was looking to get a good partnership going.
"That is what we talked about, and we could sense it was frustrating for the Indians when Scott Styris and Craig McMillan were going on."
Fleming said there were still a few areas for the Kiwis to improve.
"We have to better our top order batting and not put much pressure on the lower order."
Man of the match Scott Styris, who claimed three for 38 with the ball and then scored an important 68, said the Barabati track suited his style of play.
"The wicket suited me and I am pleased with the way I bowled. It is fantastic that we won this because it was a must win game for us," he said.
