Darren Lehmann has no excuses after Australia's World Twenty20 exit, admitting his side failed to handle the clutch moments.
Coach Lehmann made it clear pre-tournament that the side capable of delivering their best under immense pressure would go a long way toward winning the 2016 title in India.
India superstar Virat Kohli's masterful 82 not out off 51 balls to beat Australia by six wickets with five balls to spare in a virtual quarter-final in Mohali on Sunday was a prime of example of someone thriving under such a burden.
The same can't be said of Australia's inability to haul in a modest target of 143 against New Zealand in their World T20 opener.
"We were a chance to win all four games," Lehmann said.
"New Zealand was by eight (runs) and this (against India) was by a few balls so we had our chances and we just didn't take them.
"You look back on little moments in tournaments that cost you and we just didn't perform well enough at key moments."
Australia played just one T20 fixture in 2015, while a three-match series in South Africa was the squad's only chance to tune up prior to the World T20.
The absence of Mitchell Starc, the best white-ball bowler in the world to many good judges, was also telling.
"You can have all the excuses under the sun," Lehmann said.
"We weren't good enough and we've got to get better playing as a group.
"They're disappointed, as you always are when you get knocked out of a tournament. It's a young group.
"They'll regroup ... they always keep learning, that's the pleasing thing about it. We are disappointed we got knocked out today but we got beaten by one bloke. That can happen."
Australia's search for a maiden T20 title is now on hold until 2020, when they will host the seventh edition of the World T20.
"Wickets will be bouncing and they'll be nice and good wickets for everyone to play on so it'll be fine next time," Lehmann grinned.
Lehmann, who sits on the ICC's influential Cricket Committee, hoped there would be more T20 cricket played in the lead-up to that tournament.
"It's a bit easier next time, because it's four years away so we've got plenty of time to schedule some more games," he said.
"(But) our preparation was fine. There was no excuse for not getting those 142 (against NZ) in Dharamsala, just got to get better."
Much has been made of the raging turners produced at many grounds during the tournament but Lehmann had no complaints about the pitch that Kohli thrived on.
"I thought it was fine," he said.
"That was the best T20 innings I've seen for a long time .. everyone is probably in awe.
"If we maybe were a millimetre out with a yorker or a millimetre wide ... he carved us up."
"We were ahead of the game at about 15 overs but you knew you had to get him out."
