Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Anil Kumble blamed his batsmen for their seven-wicket defeat against the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League in Kolkata.
Runners-up in the last edition, the Royal Challengers lost wickets early on and could only manage 135-7, with just Jacques Kallis (65 not out) offering resistance.
Knight Riders openers Manoj Tiwary and Brad Hodge both struck half-centuries and although the Royal Challengers stretched the game to the final over, the Knight Riders easily sealed their second victory in the tournament.
Kumble said: "It was a slow wicket and we always knew it would be that way, but it was a lot slower than we expected.
"We just didn't have enough runs on the board, 150-160 would have been competitive.
"We lost too many wickets up front and we just couldn't get any momentum from there on, although Kallis was brilliant with the bat."
However, Kumble believes his team will bounce back.
"This hasn't been the greatest of starts, but we didn't have a great start in either of the previous editions," he said.
"I think it's all about winning on that day, but today was very disappointing. Our next match comes up in Bangalore in a couple of days' time and hopefully we can start winning from there."
Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews, who claimed four for 19 for the Knight Riders, came in for special praise from coach Dav Whatmore.
"He is a little gem, he's got an abundance of potential and talent and I can see him rising very high for his country Sri Lanka," Whatmore said.
"He's very clever, an incredible thinker and his ability with the ball belies his age, he's only 22. Importantly, he has got the confidence to apply all these tactics with the ball."