Kumble throws hat in ring but Dhoni is set for promotion

[DesiChap]

Kumble throws hat in ring but Dhoni is set for promotion - Vengsarkar & Co. meet in Mohali today to appoint India’s Test captain LOKENDRA PRATAP SAHI

Calcutta: Less than three years after his debut, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is all set to become India’s 30th Test captain. As first reported by The Telegraph on Tuesday, Dhoni became the frontrunner after No.1 choice (of the selectors and the Board) Sachin Tendulkar decided against a third innings. “There’s no change in the script, so to say… Dhoni is the one who is going to be appointed on Thursday,†a well-placed source confirmed late on Wednesday. The selectors (Dilip Vengsarkar, Venkatapathi Raju, Bhupinder Singh, Sanjay Jagdale and Ranjib Biswal) will be meeting in Mohali, in all probability during the break in the second Indo-Pak ODI. It’s not confirmed, but Dhoni could get the job for the Tests at home versus Pakistan and in Australia — a total of seven matches. He’s already the ODI and Twenty20 captain and, so, there won’t be any break in continuity. Nor is there going to be uncertainty/confusion, of any kind, in the dressing room. Dhoni’s advantage is that he’s young (26) and has been able to carry the team with him. Indeed, he hasn’t been intimidated by the presence of former captains. As important, Dhoni’s own performance hasn’t suffered and he’s respected by opponents (and, of course, teammates) for being courageous. A stopgap scenario is never healthy, but veteran Anil Kumble — the dark horse — stands to gain if Vengsarkar and Co. decide not to look that far ahead. That’s not expected, though. In what’s unusual for Indian cricket, Kumble has expressed a desire (through a portal) for the top job. Generally, aspirants don’t go beyond “no comments.†But, then, Kumble has never been your run of the mill type.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071108/asp/sports/story_8525575.asp

[Gambit]

Telegraph has had a reputation for getting speculations spot on regarding Indian Cricket. Some say Gangs breaks the news before it happens to his buddies at the Telegraph(Calcutta based).