Related
PHOTOS
M.S. Dhoni has the rare ability to treat Kipling's impostors, Triumph and Disaster, the same. He appears to do so, at any rate.
Despite suffering his seventh consecutive away defeat and failing again with the bat, the Indian captain was remarkably even-tempered. Lesser men would have grown defensive under pressure. But Dhoni took responsibility — “I am the leader of the side; I am the main culprit.”
However, it was his handling of the question of a transition, after repeated batting failures, that was most notable for its thoughtfulness and its balance. It might be construed in some quarters as ambivalence. But in such matters, you have to hasten slowly.
Asked if he had considered a phase-out of the senior batsmen, Dhoni said, “I have not sat and thought over it. It's something everybody needs to be a part of — the players and the BCCI. It will be a process rather than just an event. We will carefully decide what needs to be done in the best interests of the country.
“I think there is a bit more emphasis right now (from outside) about getting rid of the seniors, but as I said, it will be a very careful decision. Because of what they have done for the country and the amount of experience they can share with the youngsters.
“You can't have all the seniors missing out all of a sudden and all the juniors coming in. We will have to thoughtfully decide the best option. Give a bit of exposure to youngsters coming in, and at the same time have a fair mix of experienced guys and youngsters.
“Once they transfer that experience, the job of the youngsters will become slightly easy. You don't have to play 100 games to be experienced. If you share whatever questions you have with these experienced guys, it really helps you gain the knowledge faster.”
On being questioned if asking icons to leave demanded courage, he said, “It's not about courage. It's about taking the right decision. For example, people went after Virat (Kohli) to be dropped and he batted really well. You have to give that span of time. Especially when you know somebody is really talented, you have to give that extra time to that particular batsman to keep going on. That's how great cricketers are made.”
Dhoni suggested that the process of bringing in change would begin after the fourth Test. “Maybe the end of the series will be the right time. We also have to see what the seniors' thoughts are.”
On Laxman's possible retirement
Asked about reports from India, that quoted BCCI sources saying V.V.S. Laxman would retire after the end of the ongoing Test series, Dhoni replied, “As of now, there is nothing that I know of officially. I won't like to answer something where there is a big ‘if' and big ‘but'. I don't know where this came from. Unless Laxman tells me, I don't know whether it's happening or not happening. I really don't have to think about it.”
Dhoni admitted that he was worried about India's loss of form abroad, but there were moments of levity in the rather serious press-conference. On one occasion, he smiled and asked a journalist to simplify his question, for it contained the words “phlegmatic” and “rollicking”.
And when asked whether the team would switch off after the third Test, as they had after the second, he said, “Switching off hasn't helped. Maybe we will switch on and switch off more often.”
Go-karting then? “Maybe some other sport will help”.
Keywords: India's tour of Australia
Comments:
While Dhoni is right in accepting responsibility for the defeats, it is the Selection Committee and BCCI who should take a greater share. The in-explicable dropping of Ashwin, who was the singe most consistent BATSMAN (!), the persistence with failures, in the fond hope that these guys would score at some point or other (while the team continues to lose match after match), leaves one pondering as to whether "other considerations" weigh in the minds of our Selectors and BCCI while choosing the final XI. As an old adage goes, we will have to lie down on the bed we make for ourselves !
Ok we are happy to hear that you have accepted the truth. Not giving a chance to Rohit Sharma .depending so much on tired legs of the aged players an unacceptable field placings and bowing changes showed that your dream run continued only by luck. There is lot of time left before the fourth test. Go for car racing or beach outing so you can have white wash which will make the bookies happy.
Just bring the backyard or village boys back. The Indian diaspora is fed up with the attitude of the players who put all people of Indian origin to shame. The Indian team is only capable of beating weak Test teams overseas.
Now days cricketers are playing just for monetary purpose surely not for the country, that's why all out players are very much interested to play T20 games to earn money & fame very easily without much efforts. The real capability of cricketers is known from test match only. Not even from one day match. So Our Indian skipper is announced his retirement by 2013 from test matches to avoid his wastage of energy and to save for T20 surplus cash rewards. I don't know why honorable players is not given any high position in our cricket board because he not fond of money but he is fond our India's fame not just individual record or money.
it seems a very well made plan to push dhoni out of captaincy,first rumors of rift in team India, dhoni suggesting about his retirement....later 1 test match ban and now sehwag leads.bet india will win last test match.its a conspiracy against dhoni
It is high time that India should wake up.Undue importance is given to this game.We are growing white elephants.There are no takers for other games like foot ball which will ensure at least healthy youths for tomorrow.When this game is played,innumerable man hours lost both in public and private sectors.Now the question is who will bell the cat.
Laxman's possible retirement, yes why not and also rahul dravid and have we also forgoten sachin tendulkar;well we do have pujara who is a prolific bat-no doubt about that- as well as raina and yuvraj(possibly still recovering) and murali vijay and the list goes on and on. Being progressive is one thing but to berate such fantastic players and hunting for their heads even though we have lost 7 in a row seems ridiculous,see how mike hussey and ponting have been treated despite their poor performances. We must take a leaf out of their books we if we can't on our own decide.
Aussies also should not be too proud of themselves ,they have a good bowling side which has helped them to win games at home . As a batting unit only individual performances have led the side home . After Cowan and Warner heroics in Perth ,the rest of the batting unit had no interest in batting ,they failed miserably . It's always the bowlers who have made the most at Aussie soil . Looking at Dhoni's statements looks like he is not supported much back in the green room .Making Sehwag captain will dig the graves deeper for team India .
India is going to loose a very good captian... He is a very good captain after kapil dev...
It shows the grace of the man for taking responsibility for failure.
He took enormous pressure in his broad shoulders while bringing
laurels in all format of the game to our country. Hey it was fun while
it lasted. Say a big thank you and welcome the young blood..Dhoni,
Shewag and Zaheer has atleast 2-4 years of cricket behind them and can
share their wisdom to the new team. New team for the next 10 tests should be
V. Shewag(Cap), A. Rahane, G. Gambhir(VC), R. Sharma, V. Kholi, S. Raina, MSD(WK), Ashwin, I. Pathan, Zak, U. Yadhav, I. Sharma, P. Ohja, P.Bisht/N.Ohja(WK), V. Aaron.
The main culprits for these overseas losses are slow, turning pitches in India. Yes, it helps in annihilating the visiting teams but when it comes to fast, bouncy and swinging tracks overseas we have no clue on how to put bat on ball without edging them to men behind the wickets. We need sporting wickets in India right from first class matches to international ones. We can't boast or brag of a batting line up that is good on slow wickets alone. We need to come up with a strategy for the next couple of years and prepare our players to adapt and play to their potential on any kind of wickets. Greatness doesn't come without any sacrifice - the slow turners for fast, bouncy one. Unless we change our strategy with respect to our pitches in India, I am sure we are going to revisit the same situation every now and then. Lets stop the blame game and concentrate on what we need to do to get out of this predicament overseas. Good luck Team India and salvage home some respect with at least a win.
He sure is the main culprit with his unimaginative and too defensive
field placements which did not help the bowlers' cause, with his own
limited technique and poor batting form, with absolutely no control
over other members and their empty talks and verbal duels on and off
the field, with his denying another keeper his well deserved
opportunity to exhibit his prowess at the highest level, Dhoni sure is
the main culprit.
BCCI should clearly earmark three different teams under three different captains for the three versions (Tests, ODIs, T20s) of the game. This would apart from giving exposure to all the players who deserve to play international cricket, would also ensure there are no burn out / overwork / exhaustion / injury woes. Will the wise men think in these terms? Very unlikely..
Aren't the BCCI responsible for it. Indian team seem to be busy than a IT professional. Right after the world cup,IPL,then the west indies tour, then englnad,Champions league,then england coming to india,then the Australian tour. It must have been a dream for them winning a world cup and just after winning it the IPL starts. Dont they all needed to be given rest.Have fun with their family and treasure the moment.Are they all some machines.
Enough of cricket. Give them some rest and let them take some rest. BCCI to be criticised. It is not the money always.
Its a wake up time for BCCI To take a serious action against senior
players.Include fresh faces in the team,no matter weather we lose or win
after all its a game.Ours seniors are not playing for country,they play
for an individuals game for their own record.Record is not important.
record will make and brake eg Clark declaration in the test.This is the
open lesson for our BCCI.
Dhoni is one of the best captions in cricket world. When he captured the world cup, it was pleasant to all. It is only for Dhoni to blame, he BCCI select committee. We should give reasonable time Dhoni. He will achieve the feet again.