Dhoni comes under fire from former players

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision not to push for victory in the third and final cricket Test against the West Indies has come under scathing attack from former cricketers who said it was "shocking and depressing" and unworthy of the number one team.

The players were surprised that the Indians chose to abandon the chase when all they required was 86 runs from the 15 mandatory overs with seven wickets remaining.

Former India captain Bishen Singh Bedi was very upset with India's decision to settle for a draw and said the World Champions didn't behave like the top Test team.

"I'm very upset. I expected it to end up in an exciting finish but it ended so poorly. I have been following Indian cricket and I wonder if this is the way the World's number one team should behave, they are the World Champions and it is very depressing," Bedi said.

"Last 15 overs should have been played out, I think the ICC should have such a rule where in a Test match when there is a possibility of a win, the teams should play out the last day and not leave it to the captains," he added.

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Arun Lal was also very disappointed that India didn't push for a win.

"I'm disappointed. It was an achievable target. India has a strong batting line up and the wicket was not as bad as people would have believed. I have been taken aback, I mean, 3.8 runs per over would have been a cakewalk for India but it didn't happen," he said.

Former Indian middle-order batsman and now an expert commentator Sanjay Manjrekar was pretty scathing in his attack terming the decision "very undhoni like". He was also critical of the manner in which Rahul Dravid went about during the chase of 180 from 47 overs.

"Must confess.. was shocked to see match called off with 86 needed off 90 balls with quality batsmen left...very undhoni like," Manjrekar tweeted.

"Also could not understand Dravid's strike rate of 38 when chasing a target of 180 in about 46 overs," was another comment on his micro-blogging site.

About coach Duncan Fletcher defending Dhoni, Manjerakar said: "The coach has to defend his team. He highlighted all the cricketing issues. Fair enough, but those cricketing issues and the conditions that you talked about, it would have convinced me had it been Australia, South Africa or England for that matter."

According to former India opener Aakash Chopra, India's approach was not like it should be for the No 1 Test side in the world. "Last night at 2am I asked myself a question - did we play like the #1 Test side? The answer was - No. Just a solitary attempt n den shut shop!" the Delhi lad tweeted.

"Promoting Raina was a positive move to counter Bishoo but it finished with his dismissal. Am I a bit harsh? Yes, but shouldn't we all be?" Chopra questioned.  

Former India stumper Syed Kirmani was however not too harsh and felt that it was a correct decision on Dhoni's part to give up on the chase. "The primary objective was to win the series. If that goal is about to be achieved why take further risk and jeopardize the whole thing. A captain knows the best and it was Dhoni's call," Kirmani said.

Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop was however not the one who would buy the argument about pitch being a difficult one for chasing. "I don't think the pitch was giving that many problems," Bishop told ESPNCricinfo.

"I was very surprised. I still thought with Dhoni and Virat Kohli to come, they could have given it a bit more push. I was surprised that they closed up shop as early as they did," he said.

"(V.V.S) Laxman and (Rahul) Dravid were still there. They could have continued just working the ball around with 4-5 overs an over and then see how they went for 6-7 overs and if they needed to make a little bit more charge," he added.

"(For) the best teams in the world across (the) board, it is not just a matter of closing out a job but closing it out with a sense of killer instinct. Dhoni's decision was in complete contrast to his bold declaration in the second Test in Barbados," the fearsome fast bowler of yesteryears opined.

"I thought there was room to go when I consider that Dhoni declared and set the West Indies 281 in Barbados in 83 overs. If he gambled then, he probably had the spirit to do here (Roseau)," said Bishop.