Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted that his side literally took their eyes off the ball in the second One-day International against West Indies on Sunday at Sabina Park.
India allowed West Indies to draw level in their four-match ODI series with an eight-wicket victory, after Dhoni almost single-handedly led an Indian revival with 95 to help them set their rivals a respectable target of 189.
Dhoni struck six fours and two sixes from 130 balls, but the target was never going to be treacherous for West Indies, and the Indian captain felt his side took things for granted.
"We could have done a bit better," Dhoni said. "We could have given the respect to the balls that really needed or demanded that respect, and by the time we realised, we had already lost three wickets.
He added: "I think it was a good pitch, but the batsmen just went with their strokes and before we knew it we had three down. Once you are in that situation, you are just playing catch-up.
"R.P. [Singh] and I had a partnership, otherwise it would have been quite embarrassing."
India had only themselves to blame for their defeat, after they plunged to 82 for eight in the 22nd over after choosing to bat.
But Dhoni staged a rearguard action in the form of a 101-run, ninth-wicket stand with Singh before they both fell in the space of six balls as India were dismissed for 188 in 48.2 overs.
"I don't think there was that much in it for the bowlers, they bowled really well, they were swinging the ball well, and when it stopped swinging, they were able to get reverse swing," the India captain said.
"I think we made a mistake in our approach to batting rather than the decision of whether to bat or field."
He continued: "Later on, the pitch became better for batting. When you are batting first, initially you expect the pitch to do a bit, and after that you can capitalise if you get a good start."
At the same time, West Indies captain Chris Gayle praised Ravi Rampaul and Jerome Taylor for setting his side up for the victory.
"It's nice to square the series," he said.
"There were some good performances from the guys. Rampaul and Taylor set the game for us and from now we will look to go from strength to strength.
"There was moisture in the pitch early, and Taylor and Ravi utilised it well, and the catching was also good, so we just need to keep working on our game."
The series is now tied 1-1, after India won the high-scoring, opening match last Friday by 20 runs at the same venue.
The series concludes with a pair of ODIs - this coming Friday and Sunday - at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St. Lucia.
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