The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Dhoni hailed as India’s key man

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Dhoni hailed as India’s key man

NEW DELHI: Stand-in captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been lauded as the architect of India’s imposing second-Test win over Australia and earmarked as the key figure in the country’s cricket future.

India beat Australia by 320 runs on Tuesday to go one up in the four-match series, with the influential Dhoni — standing in for Anil Kumble — described by former India captain Ravi Shastri as “a work of art in progress”.

“Dhoni has achieved in a year what skippers don’t achieve in a lifetime,” Shastri said on Wednesday.“Clarity of mind, strength of conviction, originality ... you could go on with his positives.”

Dhoni has led India to impressive victories in both Tests in which he stood in for Kumble, with the first being the win over South Africa in their final Test of their series six months ago that secured a 1-1 series draw.

Last year he took over as India’s limited-overs captain after leading a second-string line-up to the title in the inaugural Twenty20 World championship.

Must wait his turn

Shastri said the win against Australia would have whetted Dhoni’s appetite for the permanent Test captaincy, but he must await his turn.

“He has lent a thrust at a transitional moment of Indian cricket. Sooner or later the mantle will pass on to Dhoni, there is no reason why he can’t make a fist of it,” said Shastri.

“Let’s not forget the fruits of a cohesive, united Indian team has largely been skipper Kumble’s doing,” he said. — AP

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