Chennai (PTI): India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday admitted that the two crucial dismissals in the last over before tea by Graeme Swann put the hosts on the back foot but asserted his side was very much in the game against England here.
India were 155 for six at the end of the second day and Dhoni said the home team would be looking to add at least another 50 runs in their first innings with four wickets still intact.
"We had a bad day in office. England bowled really well in the right areas. Just before tea we lost two wickets that was very crucial. (Graeme) Swann bowled well. If you see the wickets that he had taken they were of perfect balls. The ball that he bowled to Rahul (Dravid) was a really good ball," Dhoni said after the match.
"Credit goes to England, they bowled well with the new ball. They have the upper hand right now but we will look to score 50 runs to start off with the lower order. It will be tough but I think if we can reach 200-250 it will be good. In the past we have seen opponents getting 100 odd runs lead and still losing the game," he added.
"Tomorrow is important? how long we stay at the crease and how much we score accordingly we can say the target. The pitch has started to assist the spinners. But it is still not alarming. The odd ball is bouncing. We have seen worst wickets than this."
Dhoni also admitted that his boys did not have much match practice before the Test series but made it clear that he was not looking for any excuses.
"Yes we didn't get enough time. Before the Australian series we had a 15-day camp. But it all happens, we are not here to blame anything," he said.