Cricinfo India



Cricinfo Fantasy

home Cricinfo 3D Audio Video Photos Fantasy Slogout Help and Feedback



India


News

Features

Photos

Newsletter

Fixtures

Champions League

Indian Premier League

Indian Cricket League

Domestic Competitions

Domestic History

Players/Officials

Grounds

Records




 

Live Scorecards
Fixtures | Results
3D Animation
India v Australia
Bangladesh v N Zealand
T20 Canada
Stanford 20/20 for 20
ICC Intercontinental Cup
Indian Cricket League
Current and Future Tours
News
Photos | Wallpapers
Cricinfo Magazine
Match/series archive
Records
Statsguru
Players/Officials
Grounds
Women's Cricket
ICC
Rankings/Ratings
Wisden Almanack
Games
Fantasy Cricket
Slogout
Daily Newsletter
Toolbar
Widgets



India's Test captaincy dilemma

Viswanath backs Dhoni as Test captain

Cricinfo staff

November 8, 2007



After Sachin Tendulkar's refusal, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is Gundappa Viswanath's choice as Test captain © AFP

Former Indian captain Gundappa Viswanath has said that Mahendra Singh Dhoni should be India's next Test captain. The Indian selectors will meet in Mohali on Tuesday to pick the squad for the rest of the ODIs against Pakistan and they may announce the Test captain as well.

"The wicketkeeper-batsman [Dhoni] has been doing well in all departments including in his new role as skipper and I see no reason to deny him the job in totality," he wrote in the Hindu.

Viswanath cited examples of wicketkeeper-captains like West Indian Gerry Alexander, Pakistan's Moin Khan and Rashid Latif to dismiss concerns that Dhoni would be overburdened if he was given the captaincy in addition to his responsibilities as a keeper.

However, if the selectors were to look beyond Dhoni, wrote Viswanath, they should choose Anil Kumble because he had retired from ODIs and "there would be no real clash with Dhoni's current responsibilities" unlike in the case of other contenders like Sourav Ganguly.

The question of who would captain India's Test team arose after the selectors appointed Dhoni captain of only the Twenty20 and ODI side after Rahul Dravid resigned in September. Sachin Tendulkar was widely tipped to be the Test captain but he declined, citing personal reasons two days before the selectors are scheduled to decide on the position.

Viswanath wrote that he was "shocked" by Tendulkar's refusal to accept the Test captaincy.

"In the context of the team preparing to take on not one but three tough Test nations [Pakistan, Australia and South Africa], he [Tendulkar] should have accepted the job for the team's sake once he was turned to by the selectors."

 
Post this story on your favourite website Email this page to a friend Print this page Feedback
Watch our daily Cricinfo SportsCenter news round-ups
Available on Cricinfo.tv
    Fantasy cricket: India v Australia and Bangladesh v New Zealand
Login to check the standings
    Live scores, news & ball-by-ball commentary on your phone
Cricinfo Mobile



Related Links



Stories

Players/Umpires

Teams






Cricinfo Products
South Africa's Makhaya Ntini talks to cricinfo.tv
Watch now (2 mins)
Fantasy cricket - India v Aus & Bangladesh v NZ
Check the standings
Scores, text comms & news on your phone
Cricinfo Mobile
Play Slogout - our cricket action simulation game
Two formats to choose from
 
Sponsored Links
India v Australia shopping at Cricshop
Kit, DVD, books & more
Bet now on the India v Australia Test series
Fixed odds at bet365
Follow the new 2008/09 Premier League season
On ESPNsoccernet
The best online rugby coverage - Scrum.com
Site just re-launched
 


 
Top 5 player searches
Most read stories