Asked for turners to keep toss out of equation: Dhoni

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Unfazed by criticism over his demand for turners in the four-Test series against England, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today clarified that he had asked for tracks that turn from the very first day only because he wanted to keep the toss out of the equation.

"How should it be then? I was just trying to take the toss out of the equation...I was doing the good part," said Dhoni on the eve of the India-England second start here.

"Different people have different opinions. People talk about different challenges. You have seen the ball swinging in New Zealand and England and bouncing in Australia. South Africa has different kind of wickets. May be that's the reason they don't want the ball to turn," he added.

Dhoni, after winning the first Test against England at Ahmedabad, expressed his displeasure at the Motera wicket and said that "We wanted the curators to prepare the pitches that will turn from day one."

The captain, however, said that the Wankhede Stadium track, which is prepared for the second Test, would offer some more bounce and help the fast bowlers from both sides.

"It looks good. As is always the case I would like to review decision delaying it after five days. It does not turn I can come and criticise once again, but it looks like a good wicket to start with.

"This time of the year the climate is generally cooler, but it's still hot out here. It is humid. The fast bowlers will get a bit of swing and as the game progresses, the wicket may become dry. If the ball is maintained well, the fast bowlers may get to reverse it," said Dhoni.

"This wicket has bounce as compared to the other wickets (In India). Their (pace bowlers) roles will be crucial."

Dhoni said in Ahmedabad Test the fast bowling duo of Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav, who is set to miss the second match because of a sore back, played an important role.

"At Motera it was the fast bowlers who gave the important breakthroughs after which we were able to put pressure," he said.