Dhoni can not bear to look as his side's defeat is confimed

India skipper Mahendra Dhoni lamented his team's batting performance as their World Twenty20 title defence was ended with a three-run defeat by England.

After being put in to bat England made a respectable 153-8 and then restricted the normally-prolific India to 150-5.

"Their bowlers started well. They were aggressive and used the bouncer and the short ball well," said Dhoni.

"The run rate climbed and the timing of the wickets was crucial. We failed with the bat. There is no excuse."

He added: "We are sorry for what happened but we can say we gave our best. I think we have the guys who can handle the pressure, it was a day when nothing really worked for us.

"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-over World Cup.

"We were never really up to the mark but in nine months' time there will be another World Cup [the 2010 World Twenty20 tournament in the West Indies] and that is the only good thing we can say now."

India's reply got off to a poor start when Rohit Sharma fell cheaply and Dhoni's men failed to dispatch the England bowlers with their usual ruthlessness.

Their ability to hit fours and sixes almost at will was a key feature of their triumph in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007.

But England appeared to have done their homework and limited India's scoring opportunities with a disciplined bowling effort and some sharp work in the field.

606: DEBATE It was a brilliant performance from the English boys, I don't think India were ever comfortable in the chase ravisg28

The arrival of Yuvraj Singh, who famously smashed six sixes in an over off Broad at the 2007 tournament, raised Indian spirits but he managed only 17 runs before falling to Graeme Swann.

It was somewhat surprising that Yuvraj only appeared at the fall of the fourth wicket despite the sluggish progress made by India's top order, particular Ravindra Jadeja who made 25 off 35 deliveries.

"Yuvraj could have gone in higher up but we thought Jadeja would stabilise the innings," said Dhoni. "We lost wickets at unfortunate times.

"If the opposition score 153 runs and you are not able to score them there is no excuse.

"If the run-rate was close to nine or 10 an over I thought we could achieve that but the timing of wickets was crucial and the run-rate really climbed on us."

When asked whether the absence of injured big-hitting opener Virender Sehwag damaged his team's chances of retaining the trophy, Dhoni added: "He is the sort of player you can't really replace - we missed him."

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