New Delhi, (PTI) Former India cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar feels that current limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni should go that extra mile to encourage a bowler when he is getting hit for runs.

Asked if it was necessary to give bowlers confidence and continue with them in bad times rather than changing often Gavaskar said, "Every member of the team wants the captain to be by his side, be a batsman or a bowler, but particularly a bowler when he is getting some punishment.

"When the punishment is happening and he is looking around and I think if he has a senior player or a captain around who puts his hands around his shoulders and says don't worry...I have confidence in your bowling, it can make a difference. That is always something captains look to do and try and encourage the bowlers, try and make sure that he is not dispirited," said Gavaskar.

"If not the captain himself, a senior player is often given the task to stand at mid off or mid on to be able to tell the bowlers to keep their spirits up," he added.

Yesterday, after India notched up their consolation win in the third and final ODI against Bangladesh at Mirpur, Dhoni had hit out at his struggling quick bowlers, saying that the time has come to decide on the future of the existing pace attack.

Dhoni hit a superb 69 after promoting himself at number four in the match and Gavaskar praised the captain for his impressive batting.

"That is the beauty of his (Dhoni's) batting, isn't it.

He can float up and down the order and get runs anywhere. I think he realised that so much depended on him to show the way because the top order, despite having a big reputation, did not do well. Apart from Shikhar Dhawan, there was no consistency, it was one of those rare series that Virat Kohli has not fired," he told NDTV.