 Columnists and commentators had run of adjectives to describe the Jharkhandi as he took India to World Cup glory in Mumbai in April.
However, following two embarrassing defeats in as many Tests against England, the Indian skipper’s world appears to have turned upside down. From captain courageous, he has now been branded captain clueless.
Three months, Dhoni must be thinking, can be too long in cricket. There have been instances in the past when Dhoni has come under flak, notably after India’s failed campaigns in World T20s in 2009 (in England) and 2010 (in the West Indies), but never has his captaincy come under such sharp focus before.
Ever since he replaced Anil Kumble as the Test skipper midway through Australia’s tour of India in 2008, Dhoni hasn’t lost a series, nor has he lost two Tests in a row. While he has already suffered two back-to-back losses, a first series defeat appears imminent unless India pull off something out of the ordinary. Of course, everything gets exaggerated in defeats. Dhoni isn’t doing anything different now than what he has been doing all this while. His tactics are the same and his strategies similar; the only difference is that the team isn’t winning now.
Has his luck run its course? Has he lost his Midas touch? Does he need to bring more to the table than just his much-hyped cool approach? Or is he physically and mentally jaded due to the workload and a packed schedule? It could be all of this and more. While his calm demeanour may keep his colleagues, especially the juniors, a relaxed lot, there was a definite case for him to be a little more pro-active when the England batsmen were toying with the Indian attack in the second innings at Trent Bridge.
What has complicated the situation for the Indian skipper is his prolonged lean patch with the bat, accentuated further by his less than impressive work behind the stumps.
“My form, it's a bit of a concern,” he admitted, before going on to give a strange explanation. “But at the international level, you'll have times when bowlers get you out.
If your processes are okay, you don't need to worry about it. It’s a matter of 15 deliveries between being out of form and being in form.”
Dhoni’s reasoning may sound abstract, but his stats tell a straightforward story. While his century drought in the last 16 Tests may not be as worrisome due to the position (number seven) he bats in, just one half-century in the last 12 innings is certainly damning. Dhoni has had extended lean patches in the past as well.
In 2006, a year after his debut, he just had two fifties in 18 innings and then a single half-century in 13 innings in the period between December 2007 and October 2008. But a combination of superior batting might and his relatively smaller stature in the side then had helped him get away from harsher scrutiny.
In the changed scenario, however, it’s been difficult for Dhoni to escape prying eyes. He has aggregated just 49 runs from four innings this series but more than the lack of runs, the manner in which he got out in the second Test – first while chasing a wide ball, completely oblivious to the situation, and then being trapped leg before without offering a shot in the second – are a greater cause for concern.
You don’t have to look beyond Matt Prior, England’s ’keeper, to realise how crucial the number seven batsman can be. A century and two half-centuries to go with two 100-plus partnerships with the lower order have made a great difference to England’s fortunes, while India have suffered for the lack of same.
While it’s apt to point out to the Rainas, the Yuvarjs or the Abhinavs’ inability to handle the short stuff or the tail-enders not putting a price of their wickets, it is only fair to ask if the captain is setting the right example. |
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