Hope we come out stronger after this loss,says Dhoni

The fifth ODI,though,did go according to the unpredictable script that this series has followed,with the pendulum swinging both ways till the very end. While Australia stuck to their guns to regain the crucial lead in Hyderabad,India failed to deliver the killer blow for the third time in the series.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni believed that his team had failed in winning the mental part of the contest. It is disappointing to do all the hard work and come so close and lose. As long as Sachin and Raina were at the crease we had hopes of getting close to the target. It is unfortunate that we ended up losing by just three runs, said Dhoni.

Dhoni,who fell to an amazing catch by Adam Voges at backward point during Indias chase,said the three dropped catches during Australias innings was the real turning point. We dropped Shaun Marsh twice,even though a couple of them were a little difficult. The top-order including myself also failed to bat around Sachin, he explained.

Relieved Australia captain Ricky Ponting meanwhile said that Tendulkars innings was one of the best he had witnessed. We did the right things in the match and deserved to win it in the end,despite the fact that they got close, said Ponting.

Despite being the second seven-match ODI series between the two teams in less than two years,it has lived up to its expectations.

With Australia heading into Guwahati with a 3-2 lead,India will have to win both matches to clinch their first ODI series at home against the Aussies in 23 years. It is do or die for us from here,and I hope we come out stronger after this defeat, said Dhoni.