MS Dhoni at a training session ahead of the Melbourne Test.
© AFP
Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar on Thursday, defended Mahendra Singh Dhoni for his "unrest" comment that got the media talking about a rift within the Indian cricket team in Australia, saying that the Indian captain might have chosen a wrong word to describe the situation.
Dhoni made the comment in the post-match presentation at the Gabba, fueling speculation of differences between Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan but the visiting captain has cleared the air in a humorous pre-match presser in Melbourne on Thursday. (Also read: Gavaskar tells NDTV Indians need to be mentally strong )
"He (Dhoni) probably used the wrong word. He might have said that there was a bit of 'uncertainty'. I think instead of uncertainty he said unrest, because there was a bit of uncertainty whether Shikhar (Dhawan) will bat or whether Virat (Kohli) will have to go in immediately. So that was probably the word he might have wanted to use. Often you don't get the right word in a live interview," Gavaskar said. (In pics: Aussies get set | Indians train hard )
"Now that he has come out in the open and clearly said that there is no rift between Virat and Dhawan I think we should accept the captain's word. To doubt the Indian skipper is not the right thing to do. If he has said nothing, then it is nothing," the former captain said.
Australian skipper Steven Smith was quick to latch on to the opposition dressing room rumour and did take a dig at Indian's "whingeing among themselves" in the pre-match conference ahead of the third Test beginning tomorrow. But Gavaskar played it down as just an opposition tactic.
"I think what Smith would have said would have been a reaction of what he must have seen come out in the media about the differences of opinion between two players. But I don't think we really should pay too much attention. That is what modern day cricket is, to try and create some sort of a situation in the opponent's mind. I think that is what the Australian's are doing," he said.
Gavaskar still believes that the visitors have a good chance to win in the upcoming matches in Melbourne and Sydney.
"India will have to really lift themselves up mentally more than anything else because they are 0-2 down. If they can do that and put up enough runs against Australia, anything can happen. In fact this and the Sydney Test, where the ball can turn a bit, are the two best opportunities for India," he said.
"But India have to really go out there, not just hundred per cent but more than that to give themselves a chance," he added.
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