BCCI's reaction to Dhoni's decision mature: Gavaskar

India’s One-Day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s pullout from the Test series in Sri Lanka has been hot topic of late and former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar and batting legend has made an interesting comparison of how such a pullout in the 70s would have been condemned by one and all while now it is termed 'a mature decision'.

"Dhoni’s decision to skip the forthcoming Test series had the backing of the selection committee, who had called it a mature one, and it marks a change in attitude over the years. Way back in the 70s if a player made himself unavailable to play for the country, he was looked down as a traitor of sorts and got pilloried by everybody," Gavaskar wrote in his column on Sunday.

"Dhoni’s decision to rest is a brave decision indeed. Not many players would risk the possibility of the replacement cementing a permanent place in the team while they are away and it speaks volumes of Dhoni’s self-confidence that he has opted out. Having said, it takes a man of real conviction that he is no good if he is mentally and physically unable to give off his hundred per cent to the team," he adds.

Giving his own example in the late 1970s and of another Indian skipper Tiger Pataudi, when the nawab was not very popular after skipping the 1971 twin tour to the West Indies and England, the change was a welcome one from the powers that be.

"Pataudi not making himself available for the tours of the West Indies and England in 1971 did not top the popularity list of decisions though a section of the media supported him because they thought he was unfairly removed as captain of the team and Ajit Wadekar was elevated to lead the national team," he wrote.

"Even in the late 1970, where India virtually played Test cricket non-stop from September 1978, starting with a series against Pakistan after 18 years, followed by the home series against the West Indies (six Tests) and another long tour to England after resting for a month, which also included the 1979 World Cup, and six Test matches against Australia, followed by Pakistan’s tour of India (another six Tests) and the Golden Jubilee Test against England, India was to fly to the West Indies for a five-match Test series," he explained.

"The Indian team knew the Pakistan series was going to drain them physically and mentally so wanted the tour to the West Indies postponed by a week or so to be able to recharge their batteries to take on the world champions but the request was denied by the board and I refused to be part of the touring side.

"There was a huge furor and plenty of criticism including from guys who were defending Pataudi’s pullout a few years ago before the West Indies board themselves cancelled the 1980 tour after Kapil Dev also pulled out with a knee injury," he wrote.

"The reaction to Dhoni’s decision looks a lot more mature. They seem to have appreciated Dhoni’s honesty in not playing on if he was mentally and physically tired," he added.