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Sri Lanka [Images] were left groping for answers after yet another defeat against India, this time courtesy a new tormentor in Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images], who made all the difference with his "exceptional" knock in the third one-day cricket international in Jaipur on Monday.

"We made a significant improvement from the first two matches which were disappointing to say the least. We can take a lot of positives as the team batted well but an exceptional innings from Dhoni took the match away from us," Sri Lankan coach Tom Moody said at the post-match press conference.

"We don't see such knocks very often. It was a very special innings," he said.

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"We have taken significant strides forward, There's no reason why we can't turn around and start winning. Yes, we have been beaten badly but again what we saw was something very special."

Moody said his bowlers could not do much with the way Dhoni sent the ball around the park.

"No matter where we bowled and how we bowled, he sent the ball flying. But it was good to see the team did not drop its head.

"We had a very competitive target. I had thought anything above 250 would be a good score on this wicket but we were outdone by an exceptional innings," he said.

Asked what was the difference between the Indian side that toured Sri Lanka recently and the one now, Moody replied, "India is difficult to beat at home, just like Sri Lanka. They are riding with confidence, their top order is firing. Different batsmen are coming down hard at us and scoring.

"While chasing, it is very important for the top order to perform."

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He also praised the wicket, saying it played superbly from start to finish.

Kumara Sangakkara, whose career-best 138 was overshadowed by Dhoni's effort, said the Indian keeper batted his team out of the game.