MSD the best captain India had: Wadekar

[rkt.india]

While Michael Clarke finds himself embroiled in a deep crisis and had to pick up the pen to justify the sacking of four senior players from the touring party, MS Dhoni continued to work quietly with his team in Mohali. In two days' time, India and Australia will resume their battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, in a contest that the hosts have dominated so far. How times change. A little over a year ago, in the Australian summer of 2012, Dhoni found himself in the deep end of one team feud after another. India had been hammered 4-0 in the Tests and were far off the mark as ODI world champions in the tri-series that followed. Soon, India's most celebrated captain had question marks all over him. But today, as India lead 2-0 in another four-match Test series, this time at home, Dhoni seems to have found favour again. It was not so long ago when India went down to England at home and experts were baying for his blood. But the two Test victories seem to have brought in a change of wind. Sunil Gavaskar, amongst others, suggested Dhoni be untouched till 2019 after he eclipsed Sourav Ganguly's record of 21 Test wins, which happened to be a record. Having bettered Ganguly, Dhoni looks good for a lot more, but there seems to be a lot of work to be done with the Test side abroad. Gavaskar, while hailing Dhoni's achievement, had pointed out Rahul Dravid's contribution in leading India to significant victories abroad. Comparisons were inevitable. Ganguly had notched up 11 of his 21 wins overseas whereas Dhoni had collapsed in the face of such adversities. Eight consecutive losses threatened to leave a blot on an otherwise successful skipper. Dhoni reached his nadir when England broke the final barrier, winning a Test series in India after nearly three decades. However, with some pride restored, the Indian captain is now back in public affection. Ajit Wadekar, under who Gavaskar made his debut, knows a thing or two about leading India. It was the iconic Wadekar, who plotted the country's historic series triumphs in West Indies and England, not long after he had taken over from MAK Pataudi and when he talks about leadership, he means business. "It's never good to compare captains but I think Dhoni is the best skipper India has had. Yes, he was under pressure after we lost in England and Australia but the fact of the matter is, they were badly planned tours," Wadekar told Cricbuzz. Wadekar was scathing in his criticism of the way the tours were planned. India went to England without much time to get used to conditions there, unlike the English who arrived in India a month before the first Test. India's weakness against genuine pace and swing was exposed and with the exception of Dravid, the other batsmen could not even put up a fight. Their adventures in Australia were no different and India were yet again subjected to the humiliations of a whitewash. "We played only one-warm up game in England and there was no home-work done. That was the same case on the tour to Australia, so it's really unfair to blame Dhoni alone. That sort of preparation is not done. You can get away with that in T20s but not in Test cricket. The fact that we were not well prepared is not entirely Dhoni's fault, said Wadekar, who has also served as the manager of the Indian team before the side was introduced to the concept of coaches. Dhoni has definitely had a point to prove to his detractors. He had radically changed his batting style in Test cricket, choosing to graft rather than letting his natural flair take over. However, against Australia, he has revived memories of the Dhoni of old. The 224 in Chennai was a masterpiece and an innings that buried Australia deep. With Virat Kohli striking a patient century, the Indian skipper let loose some steam and India powered on to an emphatic opening victory. Wadekar insisted it was this fire to lead from the front that puts Dhoni in such elite company. "He (Dhoni) likes to lead from the front. That 224 wasn't a joke. Can you imagine how India would have fared had he gone cheaply at that stage? He has the highest number of victories now in Test cricket (as an Indian captain) to substantiate claims that he is outstanding. "I agree with Gavaskar - Dhoni should not be touched for a while," Wadekar said. The jury might still be out on Dhoni's real impact as captain Ganguly, the man whose record stands broken points out, there is much to achieve for his successor: "People have a very short memory. I am amazed at some people lauding India's recent efforts. They seem to have forgotten that we were badly drubbed in 10 out of 13 Test matches we last played," he added. Ganguly was not happy with mere numbers. He wanted to win in the toughest conditions the game could offer and he did that fairly consistently. Could Dhoni rise above numbers and deliver for India abroad? That will be another phase worth following in the career of an enigmatic cricketer.

http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/54712/msd-the-best-captain-india-had:-wadekar/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=news&utm_campaign=gadget

[namasteji1]

:hatsoff:

[adi B]

senile comment

[don_corleone840]

:csk:

[JaFanatic]

not sure but definitely one of the greatest

[NareshK]

Could Dhoni rise above numbers and deliver for India abroad? That will be another phase worth following in the career of an enigmatic cricketer.

If he can deliver in overseas conditions and win series abroad, then I would agree.

[GoldenSun]

2014 will be Dhoni's defining year in his career. This will be HIS chance to erase the ghosts of 2011-12. If he does not, he will be known as a captain who could only win at home. He simply CANNOT lead India to an 0-5 against England....

[Junyfan]

he was destined to be ,but strangely during 8-0 the way he perform was just more than mediocre,during those series he looked like just a limited over specialist with no tecnicques ,hope and luck.before that he was considered to be calm cool and tecnically very dangerous captain.

[G_B_]

he was destined to be ' date='but strangely during 8-0 the way he perform was just more than mediocre,during those series he looked like just a limited over specialist with no tecnicques ,hope and luck.before that he was considered to be calm cool and tecnically very dangerous captain.[/quote'] agree

[vamos_rafa]

he was destined to be ' date='but strangely during 8-0 the way he perform was just more than mediocre,during those series he looked like just a limited over specialist with no tecnicques ,hope and luck.before that he was considered to be calm cool and tecnically very dangerous captain.[/quote'] Not defemding Dhoni but can happen to anyone. Even Clarke has looked pretty ordinary in this series.

[Old guy]

Not defemding Dhoni but can happen to anyone. Even Clarke has looked pretty ordinary in this series.

is clarke great? :D why is he a benchmark?

[vamos_rafa]

is clarke great? :D why is he a benchmark?

He's widely "regarded" as the best captain of the current crop.

[Sidhoni]

Doesn't matter Wadekar sir. We already have a fair bunch of experts who term him as the worst we ever had.

[Old guy]

He's widely "regarded" as the best captain of the current crop.

he takes some aggressive decisions but no way he is best.. atleast u cannot prove quality in 1-2 years:giggle: smith is best for me in tests,handled team well toured well and had few moments like this.. as a bonus ended careers of 3 english captains :--D

[vamos_rafa]

he takes some aggressive decisions but no way he is best.. atleast u cannot prove quality in 1-2 years:giggle: smith is best for me in tests,handled team well toured well and had few moments like this.. as a bonus ended careers of 3 english captains :--D

Smith is a different kind of a captain. He has been there for a very long time and has had his ups and downs. But, for the past few years, his team has been superb and hence the results. It depends on the basis you want to measure your captains on. I remember Boycott pointing it out. He said that he rates captains on the way he handles the resources and not on the win/loss %age. I myself like smith the captain, but for a very large part, he was a very defensive captain but he has had a pretty strong team throughout. But, one thing about him is that he has scored many important runs(read in chases). Also, he has always led from the front.

[Old guy]

Smith is a different kind of a captain. He has been there for a very long time and has had his ups and downs. But, for the past few years, his team has been superb and hence the results. It depends on the basis you want to measure your captains on. I remember Boycott pointing it out. He said that he rates captains on the way he handles the resources and not on the win/loss %age. I myself like smith the captain, but for a very large part, he was a very defensive captain but he has had a pretty strong team throughout. But, one thing about him is that he has scored many important runs(read in chases). Also, he has always led from the front.

actually call it defensive or anything he got results away from home and itsn ot true that he had a very strong team,honestly he built a strong team and thats why appreciate him as captain so much.. this is where clarke is kind of lagging now too many players unhappy ,smith too had some problems but he has managed to get best out of every one and made these talented players perform for team

[Number]

Stating the obvious.

[vamos_rafa]

actually call it defensive or anything he got results away from home and itsn ot true that he had a very strong team,honestly he built a strong team and thats why appreciate him as captain so much.. this is where clarke is kind of lagging now too many players unhappy ,smith too had some problems but he has managed to get best out of every one and made these talented players perform for team

Agree with you in terms of man management. That's one more aspect of captaincy. But, Smith almost always had a good bowling attack, did not he? Also, it's not that Smith has always had results his way.SA was whitewashed in SA right after the 2008 Oz series. As I said, he has had his ips and downs but overall he's been very good. And I chose Clarke as I was simply referring to looking clueless on field. Clarke is the only one of the current crop, where the norm is defensive captaincy, who looks at things from a different perspective.

[Crookbond]

Agree with you in terms of man management. That's one more aspect of captaincy. But' date=' Smith almost always had a good bowling attack, did not he? Also, it's not that Smith has always had results his way.[b']SA was whitewashed in SA right after the 2008 Oz series. As I said, he has had his ips and downs but overall he's been very good. And I chose Clarke as I was simply referring to looking clueless on field. Clarke is the only one of the current crop, where the norm is defensive captaincy, who looks at things from a different perspective.

They lost it 2-1. They were whitewashed in 2006, I guess. This after the epic chase of 434 ODI series which they won IIRC. Co-incidentally it was "This day, That year".

[Old guy]

Agree with you in terms of man management. That's one more aspect of captaincy. But, Smith almost always had a good bowling attack, did not he? Also, it's not that Smith has always had results his way.SA was whitewashed in SA right after the 2008 Oz series. As I said, he has had his ips and downs but overall he's been very good. And I chose Clarke as I was simply referring to looking clueless on field. Clarke is the only one of the current crop, where the norm is defensive captaincy, who looks at things from a different perspective.

south africa did had a good bowling attack agree but there were years where bowling was thin and batting was just kallis saving them..it has not been all easy.. but my point was after that whitewash at home did we saw any rash decisions ? or lets say chaos? they took right decisions blooded in good players and have not looked back since then.. dhoni still is clueless with selection u have to agree with me on this..and still has not learned anything .. lets see what clarke does until now he has tried to move things i agree with that.. :agree: but to be honest some of things he does look like he is trying to hard to be ideal aussie captain.. and this latest chaos to me is part of it :P