Published: Jan 17, 2015, 09:30 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 18, 2015, 08:33 AM (IST)
Having retired from Test cricket during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2014-15 in Australia, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is all set to start afresh as the Indian captain in the limited-overs cricket. The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is impending, and the ongoing tri-series may set the tone for India going into the mega event, says Devarchit Varma.
The cricket world was shocked when MS Dhoni announced his retirement from Test cricket after the third Test against Australia at Melbourne. While the retirement was always on the cards — and with the media not letting go of any opportunity to remind him of the shortcomings of his team in the longest format — it was becoming increasingly difficult for Dhoni to look after the young men as well as his ageing body and the demands that came along with leading the side. It was certainly a wise decision by Dhoni, who will now continue only in the limited-overs formats, starting with the ongoing triangular series in Australia.
The challenges in Test cricket never allowed Dhoni to take a breather as the captain of the team. He did almost everything humanly possible, but there is a long way to go before the fortunes of this young Indian Test side can change for the better. India certainly have to improve in many departments and it was not a one-man job. If Dhoni’s retirement can be considered as a sacrifice of his position to help India maintain their domination in the shorter formats, there is no doubt that it is a right one. Dhoni’s records in the shorter formats prove that he is the best India has ever had.
It has always been argued that Dhoni is at his best when captaining a side in the shorter formats, and as a 33-year-old who has lot of cricket left in him, the retirement couldn’t have come at a better time. As a captain, Dhoni doesn’t have to bother thinking about India’s performance in the Test series in Australia and the result that came out, but instead, channelise his energies to make sure India remain among the top sides in the other two formats.
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During the ICC World Cup 2011, the team was a settled unit; there was a perfect mix of experienced seniors in Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and others, and hungry youngsters like Virat Kohli. But the scene is not the same anymore. The current Indian side boasts of many talented young cricketers who at times tend to commit mistakes because of their inexperience. As the head of the unit, Dhoni has to worry about marshalling his troops in the very composed manner that he has been doing for around eight years now, as India are heading into some tough months of 50-over cricket.
While Dhoni can be assured of runs from his batsmen thanks to the likes of Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Suresh Raina, the real worry will be their bowling. The frailties of the Indian bowlers have been exposed time and again, and if India have to successfully defend their World Cup title, they will have to find a way to create impact with the ball consistently.
The ongoing triangular series will give Dhoni and his men a good opportunity to get warmed up and also find some rhythm, as the ICC Cricket World Cup is less than a month away. India start their tough campaign in coloured clothing on Sunday as they take on the hosts Australia in the second One-Day International (ODI) — a perfect opportunity to get momentum. The upcoming months will also be some of the most challenging ones in Dhoni’s career, as the world knows he still has a lot to offer as a cricketer and captain of this Indian team.
(Devarchit Varma is a reporter with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)
