NEW DELHI: MS Dhoni might be on Cloud Nine now, but he came close to losing his captaincy in January 2012, had BCCI president N Srinivasan not stepped in.
Following the 0-4 loss in the Test series to Australia, the selectors
were all set to remove him from captaincy for the tri-series that was to
follow, when Srinivasan intervened. "It is not proper to discuss
selection matters.
But the constitution of the BCCI does say
that the president has to approve the national team," Srinivasan said in
a television interview on Monday.
In a meeting in Chennai, the
selectors had finalised Virat Kohli's name for captaincy for the
tri-series involving India, Australia and Sri Lanka, when Srinivasan
stepped in.
It's understood that there was a heated debate
between Mohinder Amarnath, the then North Zone selector, and Srinivasan,
following which the decision was overturned. Amarnath, later, paid the
price, losing his post in the selection committee after which he went
public on the issue.
Reacting to murmurs that Dhoni should be
relieved of captaincy in the shorter formats now, Srinivasan said: "The
selectors are there to take a call. We have an experienced group of
selectors. It is for them to decide.
But personally I feel that Dhoni is discharging the duties (captaining in all three formats) well."
Dhoni's batting, too, came in for a special mention when Srinivasan
said that "the innings he played in the Chennai ODI against Pakistan in a
losing cause was brilliant."
"During this season, his innings
against England (99 at Nagpur) and the double hundred against Australia
were game-changers. He has always been an
outstanding player. He gave us two World Cups. He is a very experienced captain.
Everybody will agree that given the
glorious
uncertainties of cricket, Dhoni has sailed well," he said. He also said
that the Board was behind the captain when the team was going through a
rough phase.
"All the Indian players are aware that the board
is behind them. The BCCI has given confidence to the players that they
should play their game. We will watch their back."
KEEPING THE FAITH
When the world around him was falling apart and some selectors wanted
to sack him as skipper, BCCI president N Srinivasan put his foot down
and gave Dhoni his vote of confidence. While the 4-0 win over Australia
has undoubtedly revived his leadership, life was far from being a bed of
roses for the man till very recently.
April 2, 2011
A storeyed and emotional World Cup campaign comes to the most dramatic
end when the skipper hits the winning runs in the final against Sri
Lanka to end a 28-year wait. He's proclaimed as the 'Miracle Worker' and
the master of his own destiny.
June 2011
Captains India to a 1-0 Test series win against West Indies, but earns
flak for pulling out of a chase in Dominica when the team could have
made it 2-0.
July 2011 Embarks on a disastrous tour of England where the players are under prepared and unfit and loses key players like
Zaheer Khan to injury. The fabled Indian batting, barring
Rahul Dravid, flops and the bowlers resemble a club-class outfit as India lose 0-4.
October-December 2011
Stars with the bat in a comprehensive whitewash over England in the
ODIs and registers a thumping 2-0 win over West Indies at home in Tests.
January-February 2012
Leads India to another 0-4 humiliation in Australia and the team fails
to make the finals in the Tri-series there. Reports of rifts between him
and some senior players emerge after his rotation policy fails
miserably.
March 2012 Leads team to Bangladesh to defend the Asia Cup, but defeat to the hosts means team doesn't even make the finals.
November 2012
India lose a home series to England for the first time in 28 years and
that too after winning the first Test. Throughout the series, his
captaincy is branded as poor and defensive. His frequent run-ins with
curators too is criticised.
December 2012
Post the defeat to England, it emerges that selectors had thought about
sacking him in Australia itself and were keen on elevating Virat, but
were stopped by BCCI chief N Srinivasan. Mohinder Amarnath spills the
beans on national TV. Some experts even moot split captaincy for India.
January 2013 Loses ODI series at home to Pakistan which triggers huge speculation about his future as captain.
February 2013
Is named as skipper for the Test series vs Australia. Plays a blinder
in the first Test which paves the way for a 4-0 series win. His
pro-active,
dynamic leadership is lauded.
Academic institutions must facilitate longer internship programmes to increase scope of employment among students
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