In sport, as in life, timing plays a crucial role. The elevation of the young Steve Smith as Australia’s 45th Test skipper, replacing the injured Michael Clarke and leapfrogging vice-captain Brad Haddin, can be cited as an example.
Considering Haddin’s experience, his role as deputy and the way he led his troops in the 48-run win over India in the first Test at Adelaide while standing in for Clarke, the decision to appoint the relatively inexperienced Smith can be considered a gamble. And a bold one at that, as the 50-over World Cup is just round the corner.
India, one feels, has a big lesson to learn from this ‘gamble’, if one could call it that.
Their regular skipper MS Dhoni, who sat out of the Adelaide Test because of injury, has taken over the reins from Virat Kohli for the second Test in Brisbane. There’s no doubting Dhoni’s experience or capabilities, but one still can’t help but think that the Indian cricket administrators should have taken a leaf out of Australia’s book by retaining Kohli as captain for all the four Tests in Australia.
In Adelaide, Kohli displayed all the qualities one would like to see in a captain. He led from the front, and played aggressive cricket. He even confronted the Australian players at times, but only when he felt it was warranted. He was also, for the most part, proactive with his decision-making in the field.
Additionally, the added responsibility brought out the best in his batting, as evidenced by his outstanding twin hundreds.
But most importantly, he captained to win. And that’s where the difference between him and Dhoni comes out in the open.
Dhoni, many feel, would have played for a draw had he been in the same position. It has happened many times before, when India, even when a win looked very much possible, have taken a defensive approach and gone for a draw. On some occasions, the approach has even cost them the match.
Kohli, on the other hand, went for the win on a deteriorating final day wicket, despite being set a challenging 364-run chase. He never shied away from a fight, his captaincy was positive and inspirational, with winning the only thing on his mind.
Dhoni’s is 33, Kohli is 26, and that perhaps gives a clear indication of the way one approaches his game. The timing was just right for the Indian board to implement the succession plan, and what better place to test one’s abilities than in Australia?
The BCCI had a golden opportunity to make the change of guard a seamless one without any major distraction or drama, a luxury not always afforded during leadership changes. Dhoni can play on, and provide strong support, guidance and experience for Kohli to lean on as India move into the next phase for their Test team. Kohli is the future, and that future should have been now. Alas, the Indian cricket administrators seem to have grassed that chance.
