London: Former India fast bowler and Match Refree Javagal Srinath blamed skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's poor handling of the media as the main reason behind the defending champions' early exit from the World Twenty20.

Srinath, who is an International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Refree, believes it was Dhoni's poor response to the media on his deputy Virender Sehwag's injury that unsettled his team.

Sehwag was included in the squad but did not play a single game because of a shoulder injury, prompting media speculation of a rift - something which clearly irked Dhoni.

"I think the row between Dhoni and the media was unnecessary and I hope Dhoni manages the fallout of the early exit better," Srinath was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.

"This team has been fantastic in the last couple of years and they should have won this tournament for sure."

Srinath is baffled with India's performance as after all they were prepared well for the tournament.

"I really believe the build-up and the way they played their warm-up games and the first two matches of the tournament was perfect," he said.

"Since winning the tournament in 2007, this team hasn't done anything wrong in the last couple of years to suggest they would not win this one as well."

"Considering their build-up here, I think they had everything going for them, the momentum and impetus was there. Perhaps the team got it all wrong with the batting strategy and the way they played the short ball," he said.