ST. JOHN'S, June 6: India wicket-keeper batsman 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 spiralling that would have dismissed Dhoni, but umpires Asad Rauf and Simon Taufel however, referred to TV umpire Billy Doctrove to legitimise the catch.

The umpires wanted to check that Ganga had not stepped on the boundary ropes in completing the catch, but the TV replays however, were inconclusive and the umpires ruled in favour of Dhoni, who was trying to hit a fourth successive six off left-arm chinaman bowler 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 from the field. That means he was taking the responsibility for his players, and they were speaking the truth.

“Brian called Daren over, and Daren said he was not entirely sure because it was his behind him because I think it is really hard to feel a paper if you step on it,” said Dhoni, referring to the cardboard advertising that forms part of the boundary rope.

“He was not entirely sure about if he had taken the catch. He said he wasn't sure if he stepped on the boundary.”

Dhoni said the final decision to walk off was left up to him and Mohammed Kaif on the field, and no instructions came from the Indian dressing room.—AFP