Indian cricket is in a
huge state of turmoil and more fuel is added to the fire by the media and
former players every day. Heard the "fake" news on the supposed rift
between Dhoni and Gambhir!!It is clearly not true and media people are playing
their part, lapping up the opportunity to add more distress and spice to the
scenario.
To be honest, MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir have never been best of friends, not even cordial in my opinion. Gambhir, since the time he settled down in the team has looked to take responsibilities and it is no secret that he aspires to be the skipper of the team someday.
Gambhir has certainly made it clear that he dislikes Dhoni's style, when in Australia he made public statements after the high pressure, intense run chase against Australia and Sri Lanka.He stated that “I would have tried and finished it sooner” and “Dhoni always leaves things till the last moment!"
But Gambhir has clearly been struggling for form in test cricket in the last couple of years, and the constant injuries haven't helped him either.
Recently Mohinder Amarnath has stated that he would prefer Gambhir to lead the test side, rather than MS Dhoni and he felt Dhoni lacked technique that is necessary for playing tests. He further mentioned that Dhoni lacked "qualities" that are required to lead a team like India and there are "far" better wicket keeping batsmen in the domestic circuit whose opportunities Dhoni is supposedly usurping.
While this might be true to an extent, we do not know what’s happening to Dhoni who has put up lack lustre performances in the recent times and seems to be on the edge whenever he speaks up in media conferences. He has been giving out false statements and making unnecessary comments at the post match ceremonies, which is quite unlike the "Captain Cool" that we have known all these years. One cannot forget to criticize the way Dhoni blamed the rain for their defeat in a super eight match against the Australians in the recently concluded World T20 and the way he tried to manipulate the curators during the ongoing series between India and England.
These out bursts and the lack of form are not good for Indian cricket and Dhoni has to make his actions do the talking. The country's cricket is in deep shame now, given the circumstances and we certainly need a better captain, whose judgment is not clouded and biased.
But like Jimmy Amarnath said, Gambhir can never be the skipper of this Indian team. He lacks patience and determination, basic qualities that are needed in any person who wants to take up the mantle. Like it was said, though it might be false news, Gambhir has indeed been self preservative in the recent times. He has always been tentative and over- judgmental which has been his short coming. Moreover I believe a leader should be born and not made, and it is quite perspicuous that Gambhir has got none of these skills. Therefore, he might not be a good skipper.
Moving ahead of Gambhir, there are only two possible options, since Harbhajan is no more in the reckoning. It can be either Virat Kohli or Virender Sehwag. Sehwag is known for his quirky, carefree and eccentric nature and making him the skipper, according to me won't be a master class move by the selectors. Added to that, he has not been in best of forms either. Whereas Virat is quite clearly struggling to score runs, and is yet to get settled in the Indian team in the longer format. He might be a viable option in the coming years though, not now certainly.
Apart from these three players, there isn’t any candidate who is worthy to be mentioned. Indian cricket is on dire straits and we desperately need some inspiration to move forward. But the million dollar question is "Who can be the skipper if not for these three players??If it is going to be any one from this list, can they be successful, given the elements of the past??
To be honest, MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir have never been best of friends, not even cordial in my opinion. Gambhir, since the time he settled down in the team has looked to take responsibilities and it is no secret that he aspires to be the skipper of the team someday.
Gambhir has certainly made it clear that he dislikes Dhoni's style, when in Australia he made public statements after the high pressure, intense run chase against Australia and Sri Lanka.He stated that “I would have tried and finished it sooner” and “Dhoni always leaves things till the last moment!"
But Gambhir has clearly been struggling for form in test cricket in the last couple of years, and the constant injuries haven't helped him either.
Recently Mohinder Amarnath has stated that he would prefer Gambhir to lead the test side, rather than MS Dhoni and he felt Dhoni lacked technique that is necessary for playing tests. He further mentioned that Dhoni lacked "qualities" that are required to lead a team like India and there are "far" better wicket keeping batsmen in the domestic circuit whose opportunities Dhoni is supposedly usurping.
While this might be true to an extent, we do not know what’s happening to Dhoni who has put up lack lustre performances in the recent times and seems to be on the edge whenever he speaks up in media conferences. He has been giving out false statements and making unnecessary comments at the post match ceremonies, which is quite unlike the "Captain Cool" that we have known all these years. One cannot forget to criticize the way Dhoni blamed the rain for their defeat in a super eight match against the Australians in the recently concluded World T20 and the way he tried to manipulate the curators during the ongoing series between India and England.
These out bursts and the lack of form are not good for Indian cricket and Dhoni has to make his actions do the talking. The country's cricket is in deep shame now, given the circumstances and we certainly need a better captain, whose judgment is not clouded and biased.
But like Jimmy Amarnath said, Gambhir can never be the skipper of this Indian team. He lacks patience and determination, basic qualities that are needed in any person who wants to take up the mantle. Like it was said, though it might be false news, Gambhir has indeed been self preservative in the recent times. He has always been tentative and over- judgmental which has been his short coming. Moreover I believe a leader should be born and not made, and it is quite perspicuous that Gambhir has got none of these skills. Therefore, he might not be a good skipper.
Moving ahead of Gambhir, there are only two possible options, since Harbhajan is no more in the reckoning. It can be either Virat Kohli or Virender Sehwag. Sehwag is known for his quirky, carefree and eccentric nature and making him the skipper, according to me won't be a master class move by the selectors. Added to that, he has not been in best of forms either. Whereas Virat is quite clearly struggling to score runs, and is yet to get settled in the Indian team in the longer format. He might be a viable option in the coming years though, not now certainly.
Apart from these three players, there isn’t any candidate who is worthy to be mentioned. Indian cricket is on dire straits and we desperately need some inspiration to move forward. But the million dollar question is "Who can be the skipper if not for these three players??If it is going to be any one from this list, can they be successful, given the elements of the past??
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