Master Tactician or Big Boss?

“And yet every some decades, comes an usurper who destroys the old and builds new, only to prosper more or to fall.” – Machiavelli

The Italian mastermind was known for his subtle threatening skills, cool temperament and the ability to finish off his opponents without getting his hands dirty. I wonder if the same can be applied to Captain ‘cool’ – Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Sehwag was recently kicked out of the Test team. Sehwag being the man he is, has vowed to come back from the drop, but will he able to?

Since the rift appeared between Dhoni and Sehwag on the Australian tour, it had to be a matter of time before someone got dropped and finally we have seen a culmination of the cycle. I do not say that he did not deserve to be dropped, I believe he did but it is the insult and double standards used that make me feel disgusted.

But how did Dhoni manage to pull that off? He is smart, he played up Sehwag, before the series, and again after the first test. As we all saw Sehwag had specs on, and by his own admission he had not yet adjusted to them, and being a hand eye co-ordination based player a hindrance in eyesight has slowed him, Sehwag was not given time to get used to his specs, he had a bad back and was put all day long in the slips. His demand for a spot in the middle order was refused in short he was insulted and then kicked out. The least they could have done for a legend of his stature was keep him on till the end of the series. They would have done it, if indeed they cared about his form but the numero uno of Indian cricket wants ‘HIS’ team around him, and has slowly eliminated everyone who could be a problem.

First went Ganguly, shockingly announcing his retirement when in a rich vein of form, coming from the man who shook the BCCI to get back his place in the team, it was a tad meek. But like an experienced sailor Ganguly knew which direction the wind was blowing from and decided to go out on his own terms.

Dravid was played up similarly by Dhoni, continuously talking about his ability to overcome his bold dismissals. Singing praises about his technique, he made the people forget about the lone vigil Dravid had kept up in England. And soon ‘The Wall’ too crumbled.

VVS Laxman, was said to be waiting to play Australia a last time before retirement, but despite his decent performances, Dhoni literally forced him out. We all know the controversy that later ensued, but Dhoni had won again.

Now to the double standards being followed in the team, Sehwag and Harbhajan were both brought in, and if Sehwag’s performance was bad Harbhajan’s was hardly better. On two turning tracks he did not manage even to reach an aggregate of 10 wickets in 4 innings. And atleast Sehwag lost his place, Harbhajan usurped an in form Pragyan Ojha, who had picked 20 wickets in the series against England. Dhoni talked of ‘Bhajji’ regaining confidence, of course Pragyan Ojha’s confidence is no matter for anyone. Harbhajan meanwhile seems inept to take advantage of an Australian lineup, that makes Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s technique look like Dravid’s when compared to theirs.

If Sehwag has been ineffective Harbhajhan has been too, the disrespect of players and the dictatorship of Dhoni must end and fast.

Yes, he’s a good keeper, yes he is a brilliant batsman, and indeed an able captain, and being a Dhoni fan it pains me more to say that, team India is not team India, it is team Dhoni. Whether it goes up or goes down, remains to be seen.

https://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/03/08/sir-alex-ferguson-discards-wayne-rooney-rumours/