Indian captain Rahul Dravid has dismissed former coach John Wright's remarks regarding the controversial declaration in the Multan Test against Pakistan in 2004 as pure "guess work".
Wright, in his recently published book 'Indian Summers', went public saying that Sachin Tendulkar felt "let down" when Dravid, who was the stand-in captain during that Test, declared the innings leaving the little master stranded on 194.
Though the two senior players or the team did not make an issue out of it, the timing of the declaration was widely debated across the world.
"I haven't read his book. There is nothing I need to worry about and explain. The two people most involved in the event -- Sachin (Tendulkar) and me -- are very clear about what it was all about," Dravid said.
"We have discussed it and put it well behind us a long, long time ago. We continue to share a healthy respect and friendship. We are the only two people who actually know what we discussed, and so anyone else's view on what happened can only be pure guesswork," Dravid was quoted as saying in 'Outlook' magazine.
Dravid admitted it was indeed tough and frustrating to take decisions like dropping senior players like VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble out of one-day squad but said he had learnt to take it in his stride.
"You have to make some difficult decisions as a captain. It is not always easy. It sort of comes with the job. I have been around for a while, including as vice-captain. I have seen tough decisions being made by others as well", Dravid said.
"You pretty much know that every decision you make will not make you an all-round popular person. To be honest, I think even the team doesn't expect you to. What they want is decisions made for the right reasons.
"...And who is to say that decisions are right or wrong? Sometimes you may have made the right decision but the execution is wrong, so it might look as if you have made the wrong decision.
Dravid said the Indian media gets carried away about the toss and team compositions.
"There is a tendency in India to get a bit carried away with things like the toss, who's playing in the XI, what's the nature of the pitch. These things happen even before the first ball is bowled," he said.
About Steve Waugh's observations in his book that one feels alienated from the boys after his elevation as captain, Dravid said it was possible.
"It can happen. A little subconsciously. As a captain you have a lot more responsibilities and a lot more things on your mind. Perhaps the boys want to make you feel comfortable and give you a little more space and some distance."
But he praised vice-captain Virender Sehwag for proving to be a good link between him and other players.
"Viru has been really good. I have enjoyed his role as vice-captain. Along with senior players like Kumble, Sachin, Laxman, Harbhajan, Yuvi, Ajit and Kaif, he has always given me some very good feedback. I like his thinking, and his approach is really very important to me.
"He (Sehwag) is pretty frank with his opinion and gives me some good advice. He has helped and in some ways we complement one another quite well."
The Bangalorean said coach Greg Chappell has helped him cope with the frustrations.
"Firstly, you've got to realise that this is a game. Everything is not ever going to go according to plan and probably never does. I think it is really important to gain that perspective.
"I think I have been helped in that sense by having someone like Greg (Chappell) around. He has seen success and failure. He has a really good perspective about victory and defeat, and about what we are trying to achieve," he said.
