First T20 loss is not a setback: Yuvraj

Yuvraj said playing too many shots early in the innings was the reason behind India's downfall in the first game at Christchurch and his batsmen will try to build partnerships to win Friday's second match and square the two-match Twenty20 series

Dashing middle order batsman Yuvraj Singh refused to read much into India's seven-wicket defeat in the tour opener but admitted his side could not afford to repeat the mistakes in the do-or-die second Twenty20 international against New Zealand.

Yuvraj said playing too many shots early in the innings was the reason behind India's downfall in the first game at Christchurch and his batsmen will try to build partnerships to win Friday's second match and square the two-match Twenty20 series.

"We did some mistakes. It is the start of the new tour and we have to understand the conditions and the wickets. So hopefully we will make less errors in the next game," Yuvraj said. "We actually played too many shots. The moment we got going we got out. We didn't have too many early partnerships. So I guess we need to assess the conditions better in the next game and make a proper plan. The batsmen need to take more responsibility."

Despite the seven-wicket defeat at Christchurch, Yuvraj said the team spirit was high.

"The feeling is good. It is just one game that we lost. It is not a setback. We will come back hard. It is the first game of the series. We have got five one-days, three Test matches and another Twenty20. It is a long tour. So we are all geared up for it," Yuvraj said.

Asked what target the team was looking for if it batted first, the left-hander said, "We don't set a total because we have a batting line-up that can score or achieve any target. So we just go by instincts and see what score we can get next time."

On the short boundaries in New Zealand, he said, "They are a bit short. In India also you get a few grounds which have short boundaries. You have still got to play good cricket shots to clear those ropes. That is in the back of our minds, but we have to concentrate on playing better cricket and not think about the grounds."

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