It was a depressingly dismal showing by Team India in Australia until the recent win day before yesterday. Four ODI losses was followed by the predictable baying for blood by self styled experts, commentators and former players. The win in the fifth ODI at Sydney on January 23rd, did not abate the baying which is loudest for the head of team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the most visible and obvious target for the ire of cricket fans and experts alike.
That is typical of the nation’s cricket worshiping junta; we hate and demolish as swiftly as we worship and laud. But the poor showing by Dhoni himself; the dismal run with the bat and poor finishing are raising real questions; questions even the sober and non-hysterical among us are asking. The team has been consistently unable to capitalise on great starts that top order batsmen such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have been providing.
Where is Dhoni the great finisher?
Captain M S Dhoni
He is known for giving the innings, that invaluable late spurt towards the end of the innings to bolster scores and is also seen to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat while opposing teams can only watch. Not recently, though. He has scored a total of 52 runs in all during the first four ODIs that the Indians played in Australia as part of the current tour series. His top score was 23 and his form was lackluster at best. His captaincy and wicket keeping are also being scrutinised and found wanting. Even though the team won the fifth ODI in Sydney not allowing Australia a clean run at home, Dhoni’s 34 whilst seeing out the inning was really not up to his own finishes of the past. India’s most successful limited overs captain has become average and his captaincy record has declined in the past few years.
Should Dhoni continue as India’s captain?
Former test cricketer Mohinder Amarnath has been critical of Dhoni’s captaincy. He says Dhoni should be replaced by Virat Kohli right away because he feels that a “young captain with a young mindset and different approach” is required at this point. Former captains Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar also feel that Dhoni is not as motivated as he should be and that a change is required. Many feel that harking back to the glory days of the first T20 World Cup win and the ODI World Cup win is futile and like resting on past laurels.
Dhoni with team
However, many still feel that Dhoni is the best captain for India. He is clever, canny, hugely experienced and able to think outside the box when required. One voice of support for Dhoni is that of former Australia cricketer Mike Hussey who feels that Dhoni is still best equipped to handle what is a very difficult situation. He points out how, in spite of the back to back defeats, there are several positives to take away from the 4 ODI losses.
So is Captain Cool cool no more? Has the 34 year old reached the end of his journey as captain? Does the salt and pepper in his stubble and hair indicate the weariness he must undoubtedly feel at times? Is this the end of the road for the glorious career of India’s very successful skipper and one of the world’s greatest finishers? All eyes are on the first T20 match tomorrow, January 26th.
Author -Reena Daruwalla
