If India wants to become a world beating side, some tough decisions need to be taken and the first of which centers around Dhoni and permanent captaincy.
After the successful tour of Sri Lanka, I pointed out on the fact that Mahendra Singh Dhoni need to be provided with more responsibility and that its time to hand over the test captaincy to the wicketkeeper batsman. After witnessing the overwhelming success of the team in the Mohali test, I am convinced the sooner it’s done, the better it will be for the team.
With all due respect to Anil Kumble, who is a pure gentleman himself, as well as a marvelous leader, India currently is going through a transitional phase and it’s apt with the current form of the leg spinner that he cordially sacrifices his place for more than a solitary reason.
One, he has been a defensive captain, and as well that statement might seem an inflammatory one, I believe the way he lead the side in Bangalooroo had a semblance of India of the late nineties, a team who looked at the sport in a sedate orthodox manner, rather than being innovative and aggressive.
Am sure a lot of the readers might not agree with me, but after having followed the fortunes of the team over the past two decades, I feel Kumble has shades of the way Azhar used to lead the side. Waiting for things to happen, patiently awaiting a mistake on the behalf of the batsmen when proaaction was required. A true example of that being fact that when Australia were five for about 150 in the second innings of the first test, he did not go for the full monty and waited till the tourists declared.
As for Dhoni, he played the Mohali test in a simple manner. He never looked in two minds in any situation. When aggression was required, he came out one down and peeled of a half century. Even in the first innings, he took on the ausie attack in order to transfer the pressure that they tried to put with the wickets. A swash buckling 92 was a magnificent exhibition of the mindset of the Indian captain. That aggression got transferred when India bowled and even when Australia came out firing all cylinders, Dhoni kept his cool and tried the option of spin as early as the eighth over. It’s not that while attacking or at being aggressive, Dhoni loses cool and all hell break lose, but he keeps his whist about himself and produces his best under pressure.
The other reason why I want Dhoni to lead immediately is off course Amit Mishra and the form of Kumble. Mishra got this opportunity after being in wilderness for half a decade. This was his debut test and what impressed me the most was not only that he took seven wickets but the fact that the Ausies were clueless about his googly. They were only picking him from the pitch, which is quite reminiscent to the way the world was being bamboozled by Kumble himself with his faster ones during his prime. I feel there is no way that Amit can be dropped from the Delhi test and hence I believe Kumble needs to do a Nasser Hussain and let this lanky bowler take his place.
Why I am more adamant at this transition is because Kumble has lost the zip that he had earlier and the results are proving that. He has been toothless against Sri Lanka, South Africa and in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy. A season back, if I would have told you this could have happened, no one would have believed, but the fact is, at 38 Anil Kumble is well past his best and it’s time for him and Indian cricket to move on. A player who use to gobble up wickets in subcontinent conditions, was struggling to get even tail enders. Only a dozen wickets in seven tests, craves for a change. Sure the Bangalore giant has taken 616 scalps in his career, but there is always a time in a career of player when he needs to look beyond self, for the good of the side.
Today, we stand on the brink of snatching the Border Gavaskar Trophy from the world champions, but if this transition does not take place immediately, I feel India will be robbed of some innovative and well needed captaincy from Dhoni, and may well be from the trophy itself.
After the successful tour of Sri Lanka, I pointed out on the fact that Mahendra Singh Dhoni need to be provided with more responsibility and that its time to hand over the test captaincy to the wicketkeeper batsman. After witnessing the overwhelming success of the team in the Mohali test, I am convinced the sooner it’s done, the better it will be for the team.
With all due respect to Anil Kumble, who is a pure gentleman himself, as well as a marvelous leader, India currently is going through a transitional phase and it’s apt with the current form of the leg spinner that he cordially sacrifices his place for more than a solitary reason.
One, he has been a defensive captain, and as well that statement might seem an inflammatory one, I believe the way he lead the side in Bangalooroo had a semblance of India of the late nineties, a team who looked at the sport in a sedate orthodox manner, rather than being innovative and aggressive.
Am sure a lot of the readers might not agree with me, but after having followed the fortunes of the team over the past two decades, I feel Kumble has shades of the way Azhar used to lead the side. Waiting for things to happen, patiently awaiting a mistake on the behalf of the batsmen when proaaction was required. A true example of that being fact that when Australia were five for about 150 in the second innings of the first test, he did not go for the full monty and waited till the tourists declared.
As for Dhoni, he played the Mohali test in a simple manner. He never looked in two minds in any situation. When aggression was required, he came out one down and peeled of a half century. Even in the first innings, he took on the ausie attack in order to transfer the pressure that they tried to put with the wickets. A swash buckling 92 was a magnificent exhibition of the mindset of the Indian captain. That aggression got transferred when India bowled and even when Australia came out firing all cylinders, Dhoni kept his cool and tried the option of spin as early as the eighth over. It’s not that while attacking or at being aggressive, Dhoni loses cool and all hell break lose, but he keeps his whist about himself and produces his best under pressure.
The other reason why I want Dhoni to lead immediately is off course Amit Mishra and the form of Kumble. Mishra got this opportunity after being in wilderness for half a decade. This was his debut test and what impressed me the most was not only that he took seven wickets but the fact that the Ausies were clueless about his googly. They were only picking him from the pitch, which is quite reminiscent to the way the world was being bamboozled by Kumble himself with his faster ones during his prime. I feel there is no way that Amit can be dropped from the Delhi test and hence I believe Kumble needs to do a Nasser Hussain and let this lanky bowler take his place.
Why I am more adamant at this transition is because Kumble has lost the zip that he had earlier and the results are proving that. He has been toothless against Sri Lanka, South Africa and in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy. A season back, if I would have told you this could have happened, no one would have believed, but the fact is, at 38 Anil Kumble is well past his best and it’s time for him and Indian cricket to move on. A player who use to gobble up wickets in subcontinent conditions, was struggling to get even tail enders. Only a dozen wickets in seven tests, craves for a change. Sure the Bangalore giant has taken 616 scalps in his career, but there is always a time in a career of player when he needs to look beyond self, for the good of the side.
Today, we stand on the brink of snatching the Border Gavaskar Trophy from the world champions, but if this transition does not take place immediately, I feel India will be robbed of some innovative and well needed captaincy from Dhoni, and may well be from the trophy itself.
Author: Asif Islam, A dedicated sports lover since 1989, following closely the various aspects of popular sports worldwide. Writting articles and analytical reports on players and events since 2003.Email - asif2311@rediffmail.com
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