The old order is giving way, and MS Dhoni doesn't want to be on the side of the fallen, says a report in The Times Of India, adding that the Captain Cool image seems to have run its course.
“Enter Captain Committed, a visibly pro-active, attacking and more involved Test skipper who seems to be reinventing himself at every turn. The ultra-defensive leader who hid behind the shades and let things drift, or dismayed at his lack of resources, has suddenly done a vanishing act. With only Sachin Tendulkar remaining from the old guard and a host of names having retired or lost form, circumstances have forced Dhoni to discover a more urgent, inspiring manner in which to lead this young and vulnerable Indian cricket team,” says the report, adding that having been extremely lucky to survive eight consecutive away Test defeats and a home series loss to England, Dhoni seems to have finally taken Michael Jordan's adage to heart: "Earn your leadership every day."
The results appear to be going his way too, as the first two Tests against Australia have shown. The awe-inspiring, game-changing double century in Chennai was another indication.
Meanwhile a report in Indian Express says that MS Dhoni has led India in just four Tests without Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. “And those Tests marked the beginning of India's fall. The first three were in the West Indies in 2011, where the then best Test team in the world toiled hard to register a 1-0 scoreline after Sehwag and Gambhir pulled out injured. The fourth occasion was during the following tour of England, in Nottingham. With both players injured, India lost by 329 runs. Never has Dhoni experienced playing without both at home. On Thursday morning, he will,” says the report, adding that come Mohali, with Sehwag joining Gambhir in the axed list, either Shikhar Dhawan or Ajinkya Rahane will open with Murali Vijay for the remaining two Tests against Australia.
And with no more long-format games before the tour of South Africa at the end of the year, many believe that this is perhaps the end for Sehwag and Gambhir. And for an epoch in Indian cricket.
"Gautam and Viru were the soul of the Indian team during its resurgence," says Aakash Chopra, former India opener and a former Delhi teammate. "They will be missed, but it's now time to move on and find those who can replace them. We won't know who can fill their shoes till someone tries them."