Mahendra Singh Dhoni hits back at his detractors: Top five quotes from the captain's press conference

New Delhi: Soon after India's win over Bangladesh in the final of the Asia Cup 2016, skipper MS Dhoni was in a mood to payback his detractors.

Ever since India lost the three-match ODI series to Bangladesh eight months ago, several cricket experts and media members called for Dhoni's sacking.

On Sunday, the wicketkeeper-batsman took a jibe at them saying that "Freedom of Expression" in India is used liberally by people when it comes to having an opinion on cricket.

Here are five key quotes from the skipper's post-match press conference:

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I believe, in India, everyone has an opinion on issues and especially on cricket. There is freedom of expression and everyone is entitled to an opinion. Play like this, play like that, do like this, do like that. The problem is cricket looks a bit easier on television than when we play it at the ground.

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Well there will be a lot of criticism. If anyone asks me that what would you have liked to do, I would have said: 'Playing cricket for India will be my first choice. I will never play for any other country'.

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Best for an individual is to take the middle part. Don't get too bogged down by criticism and also don't take yourself too seriously when you are praised. The media also balances it. If they take you up they will also bring you down. If you are up on a parachute, you can delay your coming down, but eventually you will come down. And then they will again throw you up.

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It would be putting a lot at stake, when you win nothing really. It's like when you lose to Bangladesh, people would say like 'You lost to Bangladesh' and if you win they would say 'It's okay, you are supposed to win'. It's just that there is a lot at stake but when you win you don't take anything home.

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Out of 10 innings, I might be able finish in 5 innings but some in the team have strength to do that in 7 out of 10 innings. So I think we criticize individuals too much without giving them a fair run. We have a habit of throwing statistics but I would like to check the statistics of last 50 years (limited overs have been serious played only last 33 years) as to who has finished how many games for India.

(With PTI inputs)