What happened to the great Indian debate on cricket captaincy?

John Cheeran
21 February 2013, 05:49 PM IST

Pundits, who had predicted a change in leadership after Pakistan's visit to India for a short one-day series, have sealed their lips. As India plays Australia in the first of a four-Test series in Chennai's Chepauk Stadium, it is quite certain that Mahendra Singh Dhoni will hold the leadership reins till the series is over.

The clamor for change in leadership died down all thanks to the one-day series win over England. Suddenly, despite a very crucial Test series against Australia nearing, critics stepped back. If one remembers correctly, there were breast beating about Dhoni's lack of nous in Test cricket leadership. Does a one-day series win absolve Dhoni of his sins then?

So why is India taking on what's largely considered a weak Australian side, led by a brilliant in-form batsman Michael Clark, still under the leadership of Dhoni?

Where is Virat Kohli?

Where is Gautam Gambhir? Potential deliverers against doom?

Ha, Gambhir has been pushed over the cliff by a set of frustrated selectors, and does not find a place in the squad for the first two Tests. Go through the 14-member list, there is not one player, apart from Sachin Tendulkar, who is sure of his place in the side, leave alone challenging Dhoni for captaincy now.

This situation must be pleasing for captain Dhoni but not for Indian cricket and its die-hard fans. The home series against Australia should have been a great opportunity for the BCCI to rebuild Indian cricket under the leadership of a new captain. But look hard and long, where is that great redeemer?

Dhoni walked into the Indian team at the right stage and positioned himself well when Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid completed their trysts with leadership. By then archangel Virender Sehwag had become a necessary evil for the team, not an inspiring presence.

For all you know, Dhoni will keep the captaincy even after the series. Many, including the BCCI president N Srinivasan, nurse the hope that at home, against a less than formidable side led by an amiable Clarke, India would be able to turn the tide. A series defeat, however, would be catastrophic not just for Dhoni but Team India too.