The art of Leadership - MS Dhoni needs to adapt or make way

MS Dhoni

Over the last week, there have been various articles in both print and online with critics and former Indian players slamming MS Dhoni on his captaincy. Not without a reason though as the Indian captain has now presided over back-to-back away Test series losses in addition to the whitewashes in Australia and England in 2011-12.

So, what seems to be the problem? Dhoni has been accused of defensive captaincy, of following the ball far too often, of being content in controlling the run flow than going for wickets. Frankly, from what I have seen in the South Africa and New Zealand series, there is merit to this argument. But Dhoni alone cannot take the blame, the Indian coach Duncan Fletcher should share some flak, too. This ‘defensive’ tactic first began in Dominica, where India refused to chase down 90 odd runs in 15 overs with 7 wickets in hand. Thereafter, series after series (away), the initiative has been handed to the opposition.

Dhoni, for his part, is happy in waiting for a mistake from the batsmen. At this level, it just does not work.  He even refuses to move up the order while batting. Except for Darren Sammy, no other captain in Test cricket bats at No. 7. Why he refuses to take up the responsibility, now that Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar are all gone, is beyond me.

Glance around and you will find more of the same. Michael Clarke, though in great form with the bat in the 2012-13 season, was absolutely clueless when it came to captaincy in India last year; needless to say, they were thrashed in the tour. But, now, he has reinvented himself. He picks his bowlers and backs them. Mitchell Johnson – after his comeback – would have been half as effective as he has been if he is bowling with a deep point.

New Zealand, too, were in doldrums just over a year ago, but McCullum has been wonderful in their home season. Against India in the ODIs, his tactic was simple: bowl out his specialist bowlers and get India 7 down by the time his part timers came on. And it worked, every single time. On the other end of the spectrum is Alastair Cook, who seems to have gone in reverse. Beating India in India is no mean feat, and this came about through playing two spinners on turning wickets and outfoxing the Indians. By the time the Ashes came around in Australia last year, there was pandemonium. This was partly due to Cook’s poor form and the lack of confidence in his batting, which translated to the field, and the Poms, too, were left chasing leather.

It is important to be a leader of men. Man management is as important as the intention on the field. History has shown that being aggressive has yielded in more victories than being defensive. And the logic is simple, a team that wants to win will win more often than a team that wants to avoid defeat.

It is an open secret that Dhoni’s shelf life as captain is over unless he goes back to the drawing board. It is a huge risk to continue with the Dhoni-Fletcher combo in England and Australia. If nothing else changes, the scoreline will – from 0-8 to 0-9.