Jadeja-Anderson spat: Dhoni backs Jadeja, says ICC fine ‘unjustified’

Southampton, England: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he was "very hurt" by the International Cricket Council decision to fine Ravindra Jadeja 50 percent of his match fee after an incident with England bowler James Anderson.

Speaking Saturday, on the eve of the third test against England at the Rose Bowl, Dhoni put up a fierce defense of his teammate, who was fined Friday by the ICC for a level one breach of "conduct contrary to the spirit of the game."

Facing pressures of his own, England captain Alastair Cook said his teammates still want him to be captain but denied leading his country had damaged his form with the bat.

Read: Jadeja-Anderson spat: Jadeja fined 50 per cent of his match fees

Cook said "there is nothing worse when you don't score runs and feeling you have let the other 10 guys down."

The incident involving Jadeja and Alderson happened as the players were walking off for lunch on day two of the drawn first test at Trent Bridge.

"I would not like to take any other individual name in this but we started walking and there is an individual (Anderson) who used foul language against Jadeja," Dhoni said. "I had to step in the middle and by the time we reached the ropes, I thought the thing had diffused. By the time we were through the members area I was ahead of Jadeja and again something happened. Something was told to him and he just turned to the individual and after that he was pushed and he barely gained his balance. On the basis of that, he is fined."

Anderson has a hearing for a level three charge of pushing and abusing Jadeja on Aug. 1, the day after the end of the third test. If the charge is upheld, he could be banned for four test matches.

"If somebody is saying something to you from behind and you turn and you look, that is not aggressive," Dhoni said. "I feel there were a lot of things that were neglected. I don't think there was a bit of aggression (from Jadeja) and that is the reason I am very hurt by the wording that has been given."

Read: James Anderson faces prospect of 4-Test ban for 'abusing' Ravindra Jadeja

When asked if he wants the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to appeal the sanction imposed on Jadeja, Dhoni replied: "Definitely."

He also cautioned that the ICC fine could discourage players from reporting incidents to the match referee.

"I am better off abusing the guy or whatever because 50 percent of my match money has gone because of the other guy abusing me," Dhoni said.

Allrounder Jadeja blasted 68 runs off 57 balls in the second innings as India won the second test at Lord's to lead the five match series 1-0. Jadeja took the wicket of Anderson in the first innings and ran him out to win the match in the second.

"The more he plays, the better he will get," Dhoni said of Jadeja. "When he starts being himself, you can see he has got a lot of talent."

The third test starts Sunday in Southampton.