Sunil Gavaskar is confident the ongoing row over MS Dhoni’s gloves will not distract India from their World Cup goal.

A statement from the International Cricket Council on Friday confirmed Dhoni broke tournament rules by displaying an army logo on his wicket-keeping gloves during India’s opening win over South Africa.

Dhoni, an honorary lieutenant colonel in his country’s territorial army, has received widespread support from the Indian public ahead of his side’s second game against Australia on Sunday.

Tough for me to understand how @msdhoni‘s on field gesture on his glove is a problem to @ICC. His fans have taken inspiration out of it and he himself is a respected Lt.Col, really strange.#MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/sp1vyyi8Vg

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) June 7, 2019

Gavaskar’s take is slightly different – he told India Today that “rules are there for a reason” – but the 1983 World Cup winner does not foresee the current squad losing focus amid the controversy.

“This team is focused on winning the World Cup,” he said. “They know MS Dhoni will deal with it.

“As far as I am concerned, as long as he keeps affecting those quick stumpings and keeps taking those brilliant catches, whether he is wearing gloves or not does not matter to me.”

Gavaskar may be personally indifferent to Dhoni’s sartorial choices, but whereas the likes of former India seamer RP Singh have offered strong support, the batting great recognises the ICC’s determination to apply consistency.

Moeen Ali was banned in 2014 from wearing wristbands in support of Palestine, and Gavaskar said, “Rules are there for a reason and they are meant to be followed. That’s why they are there.

“Other countries players’ might do something as well. If you want to object, do that before the rules are passed. Once the rules are passed, you can do nothing about it.”