Short-term pain for long-term gain

September 20, 2007

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been thrown in at the deep end a little ahead of schedule © AFP

When a person like Rahul Dravid gives up the Indian captaincy, straight after a historic series win in England, you wonder about the kind of toll the job takes. Dravid is a methodical, organised, intense and introspective cricketer. He had been groomed for the leadership role for some time, and so knew what he was in for. And yet, after two years in the job, he couldn't take it anymore.

The selectors have chosen to look to the future in handing Mahendra Singh Dhoni the one-day captaincy. Now they must give him the time and space he needs to grow into the job.

Dhoni is unlike Dravid in all the obvious ways. He rides a big, fast motorbike, wears his hair fashionably long, and isn't quite the model of technical correctness with bat in hand. And yet, if you got close to him, Dhoni the man isn't desperately different from Dravid. He is mild-mannered, earnest, hardworking, and keen to learn. And he'll need some breathing space to learn on the job, not least because he's been thrown in at the deep end, in a sink-or-swim situation, perhaps sooner than expected.

The first indication - and it should be hailed as a positive one - that there was change in the air came from the three elder statesmen in the side, Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, when they removed themselves from contention for the ICC World Twenty20. That took a tough decision out of the hands of the selectors. For those who have watched Indian cricket over the last decade and a half, it's strange to see a team without even one of the three in it.

But the future of Indian cricket belongs to other men. The best years of Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly are behind them. Given their obvious pedigree and quality, you can still expect the odd jaw-droppingly good performance, but the main body of their work is done. India have been spoiled by having three cricketers of this quality, backed up by the likes of Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman, all at one go. The inevitable flip side is that all these players will leave at around the same time. And it wouldn't be mere nostalgia when, a couple of years down the line, you look back and say, "They don't make them like the class of '96" - the year Ganguly and Dravid joined a Tendulkar who was hitting the high notes.

Given this scenario, the responsibility that Dhoni has been vested with is a grave one. If India are serious about rebuilding - and there's going to be no easy way, rather no way at all, to fill the vacuum left by the departure of these heavyweights - then they must be ready to take some short-term pain in search of long-term gain. Dhoni is going to have to preside over a time when games are lost while players are built.

The one factor in his favour, although the public with its selective memory may not agree, is that India are barely world-beaters in one-day cricket. While they have enjoyed patches of strong results where they have wrapped up series in quick time, winning the first three games of a five-match series, or four of a seven-match series, they have never shown consistent signs of improving as a team. There have been personnel changes, but barring a couple of young fast bowlers you'd struggle to pick someone who has emerged fresh and cemented a place for himself. In short, India win some and lose some, with no real method to the madness.

The responsibility that Dhoni has been vested with is a grave one. He is going to have to preside over a time when games are lost while players are built

With this as a starting point, Dhoni should have no trouble building in earnest. The problem, though, is that this is easier said than done. As Dravid and Greg Chappell found out, it's all very well trying to ring in change when the team is winning everything in sight. At the first instance of loss, the board and the selectors find it impossible to resist the temptation to make knee-jerk changes that reverse the - pardon the use of a dirty word - processes put in place.

One thing in Dhoni's favour is that he seems to have inherited a happy team. From all accounts the dressing room is a more relaxed and happy place than it was a year ago. There's little or no talk of cliques or rifts in the team. The three senior pros, the odd ache and pain apart, are settled into their roles and performing well enough to keep questions about retirement at bay. Equally, there's no one questioning the choice of Dhoni as captain. It's merely the timing - and this is no fault of his - that has come under scrutiny: Dhoni has been fast-tracked into a position he might have been eased more gently into in different circumstances.

Now that the decision to give Dhoni the job has been made, judgment should be suspended for the moment. Sure, everyone is keen to see just what sort of leader of men he will make, but till he is secure in the job he should not be put on trial. Instead, he must be supported from the outside. The selectors need to work closely with him, understanding that his style will be different from Dravid's, and give him the teams he wants, to the extent possible. The board must seriously consider putting a solid administration in place around the team, allowing them to concentrate on the business of bat and ball. The senior players have a critical role, ensuring that the dressing room is a stable one.

All this has never happened before, and it would be incredibly optimistic to expect it to happen now. But when making a fresh start at least there's room for hope.

Anand Vasu is an associate editor on Cricinfo

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Comments have now been closed for this article DHONI has shown some innovative strategies in T20 WC. This makes me to feel that he has something for ODIs too. He has clearly shown that he is a leader and a bagpiper too. He has taken the flock with him and brought confidence in them too. Otherwise Vengsarkar's time-pass team would not have reached so far. And Lalchand Rajput- he also must have played an important role in the gameplan. Please inteview him and I am too eager to listen to him. Please please write an article on him. He looks devout and polite but shyful. BCCI is planning for a cricket manager for forthcoming ODI series with Australia. Why they should not hand it over to Lalchand Rajput? The picture may become more clear. But I do not know how the trio(Sachin-Sourav-Rahul)will react to this. Anyway a new and very exciting era in Indian Cricket has definitely ushered and that too at the right time in building up the team for 2011WC. So there is no pain but only gain. Posted by howizzat on September 23 2007, 16:53 PM GMT Its a wonderul move by BCCI to promote Dhoni as the new captain. The only thing that needs to be done now is make this team a blend of youth and experience. To even think that the three senior pros Sachin Saurav and Dravid are spent force would be a huge mistake. There performances in the recent past have not been that bad at all. I just wonder why this large hue and cry on the ages of this three stars when clearly all good batsmen in the past or even present have played till 36 - 37 !! ponting, hayden , gilchrist lara are some of the examples. Dhoni should lead in an aggressive way which is what is nature is and should gve specific roles to the seniors and utilise them fully at the twillight of their career and then India can surely turn into a world beater!! Posted by mitrashankar on September 21 2007, 17:19 PM GMT hey let us remind ourselves tkat it is 20_20 and not test or odis that india are winning..there will be a huge difference then .i dont like dhoni being appointed as captain bcos he does not desrve a place in the test team..his wicketkeeping is below average and his batting works only whent he pitch is flat Posted by dpkhbk on September 21 2007, 16:42 PM GMT Witness the two wins this week in South Africa and you see a bunch of youngsters enjoying their cricket. In the absence of their illustrious seniors this team has excelled beyond my wildest dreams. Having had but one international T20 game under their belt before the World Cup they have reached the semi-finals and if they keep up this spirit and momentum they could be winners. Now, all they need is minimal interference and maximum support from the BCCI and selectors. Posted by philco on September 21 2007, 08:24 AM GMT I found this article painfully avoidable. Why Anand, did you have to take such an EXTREMELY negative point of view to Dhoni's ascendancy to captain the Indian cricket team?? I haven't yet read one article which looks in earnest to what Dhoni can bring to the cricket team...rather, every article is centered around bidding a farewell to Dravid, and a wary eye on Dhoni. HE is not an outsider, he is one of us, and instead of such pointless, and "oh-so-obvious" articles, much can be gained from giving Dhoni the confidence and assurance he needs from the media and fans. For the 1st time since I've logged onto cricinfo.com, you have disappointed me Anand. Posted by Skids on September 21 2007, 02:36 AM GMT It is obvious the 'juniors' are loving their cricket. Dhoni and Yuvraj's personal relaxed attitudes are their inspiration. The atmosphere after Greg Chappell has changed dramatically, and speaks volumes to the concept of an all Indian coach/management approach. The youngsters in particular need a 'father' figure - who they can trust their daily lives to. In this so modern Westernized approach, we forget how a majority of Indian youngsters are brought up and develop within an extended family environment that creates a secure emotional blanket. This concept is foreign to most Westerners. With youngsters at 17-19 years of age getting thrown out on their own into the international cricketing arena this is a huge difference. Even domestic cricket is not so lonely. Think about it a little bit - what goes in boys heads from smaller villages in India. A coach in touch with their emotional make up as well as their talents is what the team has always needed. Posted by Fan-atic on September 21 2007, 00:57 AM GMT I think the selectors should have waited for the T20 tournament to get over or at least till the SF slot is built. What happens if a certain Joginder OR Rohit Sharma were to play well? Since the series is anyway in India it would have been worth waiting - why disturb the morale of the team. One other thing, Dhoni has to be shielded by media, as he is still naive in his comments - lest he is misunderstood. Posted by kkulkarn on September 20 2007, 19:40 PM GMT Very well written, Anand. I really hope the board will give him a media manager who can and should protect the team from unnecessary pressures. Hopefully the next team manager will be a man who lets these players be what they are and bring out the best in them gently rather than attempt anything drastic. Our players are talented and sensitive guys. They have the right to be. BCCI should know how to take care of them. If not, they should learn. Posted by concerned_cricketer on September 20 2007, 13:27 PM GMT All said and done, Indian Selectors are left with little choice. I would have informed Dhoni you have to be the captain for the next 5 tournaments/one day series. This will make him more responsible and work in consolidating his position and build the confidence. Secondly, they should always select 20 players for the 5 Series and another 5 as standbyes who will be on rotating basis basically on their domestic performance these 5 will be shuffled.This will ensue fair chance to deserving players. Dhoni should be given the freedom to perform and choose the players from this lot, he should be given rewards for every match he wins, if he wins the series he should be rewarded, this will motivate him fully. Posted by conquerer on September 20 2007, 13:16 PM GMT Yeah.. Definitely. He is rite man in the current team to do the job. His differant character may do wonders.. who knows.. Posted by selvarb on September 20 2007, 12:32 PM GMT Top ^

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