India disgraced themselves by not competing - Ian Chappell

[Gunner]

MS Dhoni and the BCCI are to blame for a touring party that became too comfortable and compliant

Unleashing his acerbic wit, cricket correspondent Martin Johnson once observed: "There are only three things wrong with this England team - they can't bat, can't bowl and can't field." By the end of this series the same could be said of the hapless Indian team that lost 3-1 to England, with an additional dimension: they had also lost the will to compete. There's no disgrace in losing; it's part of cricketing life. However, what is disgraceful is failing to compete to the best of your ability and continuing to make the same mistakes. That's what India have done for the bulk of their last two visits to the UK and their most recent tour of Australia. The latest English debacle was worse than those previous capitulations, because India achieved a monumental victory at Lord's. That should have been the springboard to a spirited attempt to stretch that lead but instead it became the top step on the slippery dip to oblivion. MS Dhoni is a serial offender in those Indian debacles. In all three cases - the first two full series and the last three Tests of the recent capitulation - his captaincy failed to inspire the team. If anything, his style of leadership contributed greatly to their demise. From the moment he went on the defensive on the first day of the third Test, India's fortunes reversed quicker than a rat in retreat. His reactive, asleep-at-the-wheel captaincy was in direct contrast to the aggressive, proactive leadership he provided at Lord's. And it wasn't only Dhoni's captaincy that hurt India. His wicketkeeping has regressed to the point where it is not only adversely affecting the bowlers but also the slip cordon. First slip is a hazardous zone because Dhoni has given up attempting to catch anything other than a straightforward gift on the batsman's off side. Not only does his inactivity serve to narrow the reach of the slip cordon, it also creates confusion in the mind of the first-slip fielder. While Dhoni's flaws don't explain the woeful technique that caused an extraordinary number of chances to be floored in the slips, it certainly accounted for a few of the hard-handed mishaps at first slip. Then there were Dhoni's selections. I've never been a believer in the captain having a vote on selection; a say, yes, but a vote, no. In this latest series Dhoni provided ample proof why. His selection of Stuart Binny as an allrounder was ludicrous. Then, as if his sole aim had been to prove that point, his treatment of the player was baffling. Binny was rarely used as a bowler despite batting at No. 8. To pick Ravindra Jadeja as a front-line spinner is a serious miscasting. Then Dhoni proceeded to use Jadeja as a stop-gap trundler in Southampton in what looked like an attempt to prove he wasn't a front-line spin bowler. If that wasn't confusing enough, his statement following the fourth Test capitulation, "It's never that the result is more important than the process", was bewildering. I have never witnessed a series decided by a team achieving the correct process 46 times to the opposition's 43. Winning is important but two losses in a five-Test series aren't a disaster as long as they are accompanied by three victories. One of India's biggest headaches is finding a replacement for Dhoni as Test captain, following the repeated batting failures of his logical successor Rat Kohli. The BCCI deserves to share top billing with Dhoni when blame is being apportioned. Their casual acceptance of overseas defeats and obsession with finance has led Indian touring parties to become comfortable and compliant. This is not compatible with fielding a hard-nosed, competitive team. If India continue to bat, bowl and field poorly and fail to compete at full throttle under Dhoni's lackluster captaincy, then another capitulation is certain to follow against a highly competitive Australian outfit.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/773553.html

[undisputed chap]

Did dhoni tell rat & pujara to bat poorly as well. Why do these players require constant motivation ??

[CG]

Good points.

[vvvslaxman]

If that wasn't confusing enough, his statement following the fourth Test capitulation, "It's never that the result is more important than the process", was bewildering. :hysterical: Many are with you on that

[tweaker]

The process of destroying Indian cricket

[sensible-indian]

Can someone anyone help us by stripping Dhoni from the Test captaincy? Its pure agony watching him captain the side.

[Laaloo]

If that wasn't confusing enough, his statement following the fourth Test capitulation, "It's never that the result is more important than the process", was bewildering. :hysterical: Many are with you on that

On ICF, those who dont agree are also following Dhonis process. Too bad they cant figure out what the process is. :hmmm: Jab Dhoni ka process pata chale Eis fakir pe meherbaani karke mujhe bata dena That will be my moksh. And when I die, I will tell God about Dhonis process.

[mancalledsting]

Did dhoni tell rat & pujara to bat poorly as well. Why do these players require constant motivation ??

So it's not the responsibility of the captain to motivate his team? This is one of the inherent fundamentals of the role or any leadership position for that matter

[mancalledsting]

The process of destroying Indian cricket

The process of my bank balance still increasing despite me having limited capabilities as a cricketer

[mancalledsting]

Can someone anyone help us by stripping Dhoni from the Test captaincy? Its pure agony watching him captain the side.

It's like Indian cricket is being governed by a dictatorship

[Precambrian]

I am sure the old fart had another excuse when Australia were drubbed 4-0 in India by essentially the same team in India.

[CSK Fan]

I am sure the old fart had another excuse when Australia were drubbed 4-0 in India by essentially the same team in India.

How long will you keep harping on the 4-0? Aussies have gone places after that defeat. We went backwards and are still going backwards

[adi B]

1)From the moment he went on the defensive on the first day of the third Test, India's fortunes reversed quicker than a rat in retreat. 2)And it wasn't only Dhoni's captaincy that hurt India. His wicketkeeping has regressed to the point where it is not only adversely affecting the bowlers but also the slip cordon. 3)His selection of Stuart Binny as an allrounder was ludicrous. Then, as if his sole aim had been to prove that point, his treatment of the player was baffling. Binny was rarely used as a bowler despite batting at No. 8. 4)If that wasn't confusing enough, his statement following the fourth Test capitulation, "It's never that the result is more important than the process", was bewildering. these 4 point are enough to prove that he visits icf :cantstop:.almost every point he has written was echoed by majority of the icfers during the test series,especially point1. holding,crowe and warnie also echoed similar sentiments,dhoni's style of captaincy in test matches is baffling!!

[Precambrian]

How long will you keep harping on the 4-0? Aussies have gone places after that defeat. We went backwards and are still going backwards

That's funny reasoning.. people don't hesitate a bit to bring in Dhoni's records in 2011 although as per your logic, 4-0 should prevent them from mentioning that ain't it?

[rahulrulezz]

I am sure the old fart had another excuse when Australia were drubbed 4-0 in India by essentially the same team in India.

Dude learn to to accept constructive criticism. It's cuz of blind fans of Dhoni and don Sreenivas, Indian cricket team is number 1 only in making money. Bcci priority is more about how to make money and more money and how to get power and more power. Whereas boards like SounthAfricas and Australia's care about being rank 1 ON THE FIELD. Going back to your 4-0 loss Aus received back in 2011, they changed coach right away and dropped big players.

[Midfielder]

I have lot more respect for Chappel and Wasim for telling the truth compared to my old heroes Gavaskar, Dravid etc. who are making a fool of themselves by backing this moron.

[vvvslaxman]

Once CSK is disqualified there will be lot of good things happening. . It is a disgusting franchise that meddled with indian cricket overly. A guy like jaddu playing as an all rounder in tests is simply an abomination.

[Precambrian]

Dude learn to to accept constructive criticism. It's cuz of blind fans of Dhoni and don Sreenivas' date=' Indian cricket team is number 1 only in making money. Bcci priority is more about how to make money and more money and how to get power and more power. Whereas boards like SounthAfricas and Australia's care about being rank 1 ON THE FIELD. Going back to your 4-0 loss Aus received back in 2011, they changed coach right away and dropped big players.[/quote'] Constructive criticism my ass. The guy is like Mani Shankar Aiyar of Australia with a deep rooted attitude against Indians. 5-10 yrs back this guy was constantly trying to up Ponting against Tendulkar by talking up the former's aggressive play. He is nothing but a India bater.

[suraj]

These comments make sense Team India absolutely disgraced themselves; deserve all the criticism 1-3 loss is acceptable; no fight at all is simply embarassing Hope other sports start getting attention in India so this monopoly of sub standard performers making millions ends soon

[Midfielder]

These comments make sense Team India absolutely disgraced themselves; deserve all the criticism 1-3 loss is acceptable; no fight at all is simply embarassing Hope other sports start getting attention in India so this monopoly of sub standard performers making millions ends soon

Yes!