Team India’s quest for the ICC trophy has been a long one, spanning almost a decade. The last win came under the leadership of MS Dhoni in the 2013 Champions Trophy. Since this victory, one ICC trophy has eluded the team – the team has lost four ICC finals and been eliminated in the semi-finals on four occasions.
Under Virat Kohli, the Indian side became an irresistible force in Test cricket, but was not able to clinch an ICC title. Rohit Sharma, who replaced Kohli, also faced disappointment as the team crashed out in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup last year. Adding to the woes, India recently suffered a loss in the World Test Championship final against Australia.
Although India have found success in bilateral events, the chase for an elusive ICC trophy continues. The absence of a leader like Dhoni, who remains the only Indian captain to win all three white-ball ICC tournaments, has been deeply felt. Former India selector Bhupinder Singh Sr threw light on the reason behind the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to appoint Dhoni as the captain.
What made Dhoni a good captain?
Singh told Hindustan Times in an interview that a lot of players have given positive feedback about Dhoni’s approach towards the game, his body language and the way he communicates with others.
“Apart from being an automatic choice in the team, you look at a player’s cricketing skills, body language, ability to lead from the front and man management skills. We saw Dhoni’s attitude towards the game, his body language, how he used to talk to others; We got a positive response,” Singh said,
Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings to their fifth IPL title last month and is India’s best and most successful captain. As far as the Indian team is concerned, the upcoming tour of West Indies, comprising two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is, will present a new challenge for the team. While Rohit Sharma is expected to lead the team during this tour, it is uncertain how long the selectors will continue with him as captain amid ongoing discussions about his future.