Dhoni denies his batsmen are selfish

Have India's batsmen been guilty of putting self above team in the ongoing ODI series?

MS Dhoni rejects the idea outright but Glenn Maxwell feels it is no secret that "some people are milestone driven".

Dhoni lamented his side's sloppy fielding and inconsistent bowling after they suffered a three-wicket loss at the MCG on Sunday night.

However, pundits have also been critical of the side's supposedly sluggish batting in the series.

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India have posted totals of 3-309, 8-308 and 6-295, but many feel they could have all been bigger totals if the tourists had attacked more in the middle overs.

Dhoni became defensive when asked if the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had batted selfishly while approaching tons.

"No, certainly not. I don't think so," Dhoni said.

"Don't ask me to elaborate, the statistics are with you."

Watch highlights of India's innings

Maxwell was more forthright when asked about the approach of some of India's batsmen when three figures beckoned.

"They were probably just making sure they got to a milestone. Some people are milestone driven, some people aren't," he said.

"If you're milestone driven and it means that much to you, then go for it.

"But it's not been something that's really driven me too much. Each to their own."

Maxwell added it would be wrong to criticise India after a much-improved performance with bat and ball in Melbourne.

"They played really well today. I thought everything clicked for them on a pretty difficult wicket," he said.

Dhoni was frustrated to have already lost the five-match series and put the heat on his pacemen after losses in Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne.

"There will be conflict of interest if I start reviewing my performance ... as the skipper," he said.

"You have to see that more than the series win - what really is happening.

"What are the segments where we are lacking and where we can improve as a team because it is not about the leader.

"It's the fast bowlers, how at times they give away those easy boundaries and that in turn puts a lot of pressure."

Dhoni suggested a "lack of concentration" was behind some terrible fielding errors that proved decisive in the tight MCG contest.

"When your best fielders make mistakes you can't blame it on fielding practice," he said.