Indian cricket, its administration and the workings of the team behind the scenes have always been shrouded in relative mystery, with players, support staff and officials unwilling to come out and talk to media as often as they should really do.
However, one aspect which has always been clear has been MS Dhoni's relationship with the BCCI, with the board seeing their skipper as the main man – near untouchable.
Until now that is, and all courtesy comments made by Dhoni about coach Duncan Fletcher, after the captain insisted the Englishman remains the "boss" of the national team, despite BCCI's recent appointment of Ravi Shastri as director of cricket.
"Dhoni is no one to comment as to who is the boss of the team," a senior BCCI official told PTI. "It's not his domain. "Obviously, Dhoni has overstepped his brief as an Indian captain.
"The media can ask him any question but being a matured cricketer, he should know what his lines are. Just like BCCI officials are not going to decide who is in the playing XI, Dhoni does not decide who is going to stay and till what time.
"He has not been entrusted with the duty of recruiting the support staff or commenting on their tenure."
Those are pretty strong words against Dhoni, who, along with Fletcher, are under extreme pressure following the pathetic Test series loss to England, which eventually forced BCCI into making a few coaching changes.
Dhoni, on the eve of the 1st ODI against England, which was eventually abandoned due to rain, insisted Fletcher remains in the scheme of things for India and will be the coach when the team look to defend their World Cup title.
"Definitely he will lead us into the World Cup," said Dhoni. "Also he is still the boss. We have Ravi who will look into everything, but Duncan Fletcher is the boss. It's not as if his powers or his position have been curtailed.
"I don't know what you feel from outside, but still operations remain the same. We have a few other support staff who come into the dressing room, but overall the operation remains the same."
While Dhoni defended bowling coach Joe Dawes and fielding coach Trevor Penney, who have been given a break from the side, the skipper also lent his support to Shastri, despite worries that the former stalwart might step on a few toes in his new role.
"He is here to oversee the operations, from the outside, what he feels and everything," added Dhoni. "It's good to have him. The reason being he is a very proud India cricketer, and at the same time very positive.
"He believes a lot in fighting and having the right instincts, going over and giving his 100%. It is obviously good to have him. He also speaks the same language, and can interact a lot with the players. Same is the case with other people, so it is good to have them."
While India's first chance at redemption was curtailed by rain, Dhoni and Fletcher will certainly hope some good performances in the remaining limited overs internationals will ease the pressure and the spotlight on the duo.
