INDIA'S ATTEMPT to secure a series-clinching lead against England in today's limited-overs international has been overshadowed by a selection row that led to skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni reportedly offering to quit as captain.

Dhoni was dismayed by the public debate surrounding a selection-panel decision to change the squad that he apparently did not endorse.

Television news channels said Dhoni did not want to see pace bowler Rudra Pratap Singh dropped from the 15-member squad that gave India a 3-0 lead in the seven-match series. Singh was replaced by all-rounder Irfan Pathan in the squad for the next two matches, to be played in Bangalore (today) and Cuttack (Nov. 26).

Debates

"There will be debates over team composition but that information should not be put out in the media," Dhoni told reporters ahead of the fourth limited-overs international.

"I'm not talking about whether something did or did not happen in the selection meeting," said Dhoni, doing little to quiet speculation about his rift with the selection panel.

"Nobody knows what was discussed except the eight guys in the meeting and only they know whether it's the truth or not," he said. "Over the years, we've found out something or other gets out from the meeting into the media."

"If that's meant to be, then we might as well have the whole selection meeting telecast live on television," he said.

India's cricket board refused to comment on reports about the selection rift.

Star batsman

"I can't respond to something that is being floated around by somebody," board secretary N. Srinivasan said according to the Press Trust of India.

Dhoni welcomed the return of star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, whose recall was the other change in the Indian squad.

Tendulkar has not featured in a one-day international since the tri-series victory over Australia in March. A groin injury ruled Tendulkar out of the series in Bangladesh and Pakistan earlier in the year, and an elbow injury kept him out of the one-dayer against Sri Lanka in August.

Tendulkar was left out of the team for the initial three one-dayers of the current series after he said he wanted to be rested after the four-Test series against Australia that India won 2-0 earlier this month.

"It's a pleasure to have Sachin in the team," Dhoni said.