Mahendra Singh Dhoni disclosed that Windies captain Lara told him to walk off and he did after he was caught on the fourth day in the opening Test.
ST JOHN'S, ANTIGUA: Mahendra Dhoni disclosed that West Indies captain Brian Lara asked him to walk and he did after he was controversially caught on the fourth day of the opening Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground on Monday. West Indies fielder Daren Ganga appeared to hold a catch that would have dismissed Dhoni, but umpires Asad Rauf and Simon Taufel referred it to TV umpire Billy Doctrove.
As the replays were inconclusive, the umpires ruled in favour of Dhoni, who was trying to hit a fourth successive six off left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed.
“I talked to the umpires and they said they were not really sure and would be consulting with the third umpire,” Dhoni said. “Brian then came up to me and said he was taking charge of his players, so he thought I should walk off. He said whatever his players said it would be the truth, so then I decided I should walk off. That means he was taking the responsibility for his players, and they were speaking the truth.”
All but 17 of Dhoni’s 69 off 52 balls in an hour of batting came in boundaries comprising four fours and half-dozen sixes that helped India declare at 521 for six, leaving West Indies a victory target of 392. “Brian called Daren over, and Daren said he was not entirely sure,” said Dhoni. Dhoni said the final decision to walk off was left to him and Mohammed Kaif on the field, and no instructions came from the Indian dressing room but not before an incensed Lara challenged the decision, and a second attempt was made to make a decision with the help of the TV replays. They were again inconclusive.
Lara then angrily snatched the ball from umpire Asad Rauf and walked away to resume play, but Indian skipper Rahul Dravid put both sides out of their misery by making the declaration. “I think I accepted the fielder’s words and I came back to the pavilion,” he said. “I think it’s a topic that should be left alone.” It was 15 minutes of total confusion before Dhoni walked off. West Indies coach Bennett King played down the incident. “I think the moment has gone and both sides want to move on and play cricket,” he said. “It’s an exciting game and let’s make sure cricket is the winner here,” he added.
Other big fights
Slater-Dravid
Australia’s Michael Slater claimed that he had caught Rahul Dravid cleanly during the first Test at Mumbai in 2001. The third umpire ruled that Dravid was not out, but an infuriated Slater wanted the Indian to take his word for it. Dravid decided to stay. Australia won the match by 10 wickets.
Gavaskar-Lillie
At the MCG in 1981, Sunil Gavaskar was adjudged lbw. However, Gavaskar believed that he had edged the ball. He stood his ground for a while before deciding to walk off. But the bowler Dennis Lillie made an unfavourable comment, so Gavaskar asked Chetan Chauhan to walk off. However, team manager Salim Durrani persuaded Chauhan to get back to batting.
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