India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave a frank assessment of his team's fourth day collapse to lose the first Test against Australia, saying the Melbourne Cricket Ground wicket was benign enough to reel in the victory target.

Chasing 292 to win, India were bundled out for 169 on Thursday after their formidable batting lineup crumbled in the face of a spirited onslaught from pace trio Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Ben Hilfenhaus. "I think they bowled a really good line close to that off-stump area... I think the length and line they bowled was very crucial," Dhoni told reporters following the 122-run defeat.