Another series loss and the heat is back on Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Let’s face it, the Indian captain somehow doesn’t measure up to the challenge of the overseas Tests.
While he comes across as a smart tactician in limited-overs cricket and even in the home Tests, he seems to lose his mojo the moment India step on foreign shores for the five-dayers.
It’s evident in India’s recent away record in Tests: no wins in their last 14 matches, including four series losses on the trot. The frustrating part is that it is not because India have a pathetic team but because they fritter away winning positions and Dhoni has been found wanting on almost all occasions.
Of those 14 games, India got very close to winning at least three – at Roseau in the third Test against West Indies (2011), in the second Test against South Africa (2013) and now at Wellington against New Zealand.
Though they lost the series in England 4-0 (2011) and 4-0 in Australia (2012-13), they had their chances at Trent Bridge and Melbourne.
The series results in South Africa and New Zealand could easily have been 1-1 but it has ended in 1-0 defeats. The Test that ended at Basin Reserve on Tuesday was another in the long list of opportunities lost.
India, armed with a 246-run lead, had the Kiwis on the mat at 94-5 on the second day and were just five wickets away from a heartwarming win. Of course, Brendon McCullum played the innings of his life in the company of wicketkeeper Brian-John Watling, but what stood out like a sore thumb was the Indian captain’s tactics during the Kiwi fightback.
Defensive fields were laid out and there appeared to be no intent to make things happen. Dhoni has often looked clueless in such circumstances, allowing the situation to drift, waiting for the opposition to make mistakes. If the rivals show a strong resolve and stay put, like McCullum did, then be assured India will loosen the grip and allow a free run.
It is this raising of the defensive flag that is hurting India’s chances and playing havoc with the credentials of the Test team.
Mind you, Dhoni has quite a feisty young bunch at his disposal as is evident in their fightbacks in South Africa and New Zealand, but his inability to cash in on the big moments brands them as poor travellers.
Dhoni’s approach towards Tests is indeed intriguing. Many believe he does not fancy the Tests as much as the shorter formats, where he has been immensely successful leading India to World Twenty20 (2007) and World Cup (2011) glory besides winning the IPL (twice in 2009 and 2010) and the Champions League (2010) as captain of Chennai Super Kings.
Dhoni still has the opportunity to turn around his poor overseas record as India will be playing nine Tests away (five in England and four in Australia) this year.
If India have to progress as a Test playing nation, Dhoni needs to show the same enthusiasm in the five-day format as he does in the limited-overs matches because inspite of his tardy tactics he remains the best man to lead the side.