Alarming Bell Ringing for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Indian Captaincy Needs Change
It is true to say that happy days of our life are not forever. One of the prime examples of that, nowadays, is Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He has been living wonderful days of his cricketing life but not now. The team is losing once and again under his leadership. However, he is not the only culprit. When a team is losing or winning, it is the responsibility of the entire team. But at the same time, captain owns a special responsibility.
In 2007, it was the time when Team India won the first ever Twenty 20 World Cup under the capable leadership of MS Dhoni. He became the most famous sportsperson of the country. The success of Team India continued under his leadership when we won Cricket World Cup 2011, a first ever home side win by any nation. In Test Cricket too, we became number one side in the world by beating mighty teams like South Africa, Sri Lanka and Australia. We have achieved everything available in World Cricket i.e. 20-20 World Cup, 50 Overs World Cup and No. 1 Ranking in Test Cricket.
But for the last three-four years or especially after the Cricket World Cup 2011, Team India has been on the losing streak under the leadership of MS Dhoni. Particularly in the test matches, where we lost 5-0 series loss against England in England followed by 4-0 loss against Australia in Australia. We only won those matches which we played at our home. Our rankings down badly and the worse situation came when we lost home series against England. These huge loses force the retirements of many legends of Indian Cricket started by another successful captain of team India - Sourav Ganguly followed by the Wall of India- Rahul Dravid, stylish batsman - VVS Laxman and of course, the God of Cricket and Bharat Ratna - Sachin Tendulkar. They all had known as fab-four of Indian team and the base of middle order batting.
With the retirements of these greats, the pressure was so much mounting on MS Dhoni to step up the captaincy role but he did not fall despite the fall of Team India and the selectors too had faith in his captaincy. It was the right thing because MS Dhoni has given everything to Indian Cricket and he will be known as one of the most successful captains of India. But from 2015, Indian team has been on the falling side by losing four-match test series against Australia and tri-series with England and Australia. We lost World Cup 2015 semi-final to Australia despite winning consecutive wins. Thereafter, more shameful defeat against Bangladesh and more recently, 20-20 and one-day series loss against South Africa added more to our worse situation.
MS Dhoni’s decision to retire from Test Cricket in the middle of the Test Series against Australia was shocking for many of us but it was the right decision, albeit a late decision. Only MS Dhoni knew the reason behind such sudden retirement. As we know, Virat Kohli has taken over the charge of Team India in the longer format of Cricket. But the time has come for him to become captain in all formats of Cricket. It is the need of the time that MS Dhoni should step down as Indian Captain and play as a proper batsman-wicketkeeper. He is no more a finisher, as we saw recently, and his defensive moves in choosing the right bowler at right time or placing the fielders across the ground badly affecting the team’s performance.
Presently, the Indian Cricket Team is in Australia and we have already lost two matches there with three are remaining. If we lose one more then the series will be over for us and the fate of Mahendra Singh Dhoni will come more in danger. We have several examples when some players have step out from captaincy for the sake of giving chance to another deserving candidate. For instance, Ricky Ponting for Michael Clarke (Australia), Graeme Smith for AB De Villiers (South Africa), Andrew Strauss for Alastair Cook (England), Kumara Sangakara for Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) and more recently, Hashim Amla (South Africa). They all have given their captaincy because their teams are not doing well under their leadership.
The alarming bell is also ringing for the Great, MS Dhoni so it is better that he himself take the big decision because another deserving player in Virat Kohli is waiting for Indian captaincy role. Time has really changed for Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
In 2007, it was the time when Team India won the first ever Twenty 20 World Cup under the capable leadership of MS Dhoni. He became the most famous sportsperson of the country. The success of Team India continued under his leadership when we won Cricket World Cup 2011, a first ever home side win by any nation. In Test Cricket too, we became number one side in the world by beating mighty teams like South Africa, Sri Lanka and Australia. We have achieved everything available in World Cricket i.e. 20-20 World Cup, 50 Overs World Cup and No. 1 Ranking in Test Cricket.
But for the last three-four years or especially after the Cricket World Cup 2011, Team India has been on the losing streak under the leadership of MS Dhoni. Particularly in the test matches, where we lost 5-0 series loss against England in England followed by 4-0 loss against Australia in Australia. We only won those matches which we played at our home. Our rankings down badly and the worse situation came when we lost home series against England. These huge loses force the retirements of many legends of Indian Cricket started by another successful captain of team India - Sourav Ganguly followed by the Wall of India- Rahul Dravid, stylish batsman - VVS Laxman and of course, the God of Cricket and Bharat Ratna - Sachin Tendulkar. They all had known as fab-four of Indian team and the base of middle order batting.
With the retirements of these greats, the pressure was so much mounting on MS Dhoni to step up the captaincy role but he did not fall despite the fall of Team India and the selectors too had faith in his captaincy. It was the right thing because MS Dhoni has given everything to Indian Cricket and he will be known as one of the most successful captains of India. But from 2015, Indian team has been on the falling side by losing four-match test series against Australia and tri-series with England and Australia. We lost World Cup 2015 semi-final to Australia despite winning consecutive wins. Thereafter, more shameful defeat against Bangladesh and more recently, 20-20 and one-day series loss against South Africa added more to our worse situation.
MS Dhoni’s decision to retire from Test Cricket in the middle of the Test Series against Australia was shocking for many of us but it was the right decision, albeit a late decision. Only MS Dhoni knew the reason behind such sudden retirement. As we know, Virat Kohli has taken over the charge of Team India in the longer format of Cricket. But the time has come for him to become captain in all formats of Cricket. It is the need of the time that MS Dhoni should step down as Indian Captain and play as a proper batsman-wicketkeeper. He is no more a finisher, as we saw recently, and his defensive moves in choosing the right bowler at right time or placing the fielders across the ground badly affecting the team’s performance.
Presently, the Indian Cricket Team is in Australia and we have already lost two matches there with three are remaining. If we lose one more then the series will be over for us and the fate of Mahendra Singh Dhoni will come more in danger. We have several examples when some players have step out from captaincy for the sake of giving chance to another deserving candidate. For instance, Ricky Ponting for Michael Clarke (Australia), Graeme Smith for AB De Villiers (South Africa), Andrew Strauss for Alastair Cook (England), Kumara Sangakara for Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) and more recently, Hashim Amla (South Africa). They all have given their captaincy because their teams are not doing well under their leadership.
The alarming bell is also ringing for the Great, MS Dhoni so it is better that he himself take the big decision because another deserving player in Virat Kohli is waiting for Indian captaincy role. Time has really changed for Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Comments