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With Team India winning the second test match against Australia at Hyderabad, statisticians have started screaming from the 'roof top' that the current Indian skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has become the most successful Test Captain, bettering the record of the former Indian Captain, Saurav Ganguly.
A peek into the statistics reveals that Saurav Ganguly captained India in 49 test matches and won 21 of them. Of these 49 matches, a total of 28 matches were played AWAY FROM HOME. The remaining 21 matches were played AT HOME.
Of the 21 matches played at home, Ganguly won 10 of them and of the 28 matches played away from home, 11 ended in Indian victory.
On the other hand, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has. upto the end of the Hyderabad Test, has captained the team in 45 test matches out of which 26 matches were played AT HOME and the balance 19 matches were played AWAY FROM HOME.
Of the home matches, Dhoni could win 17 of them and of the away matches he has won 5 matches.
Though the total number of wins Dhoni has as captain in tests is higher than that of Saurav Ganguly, it is necessary also to accept the fact that most of the wins have come from playing at 'home conditions' which are generally conducive to the home team......Well, playing and winning test matches 'away from home' is altogether a 'different cup of tea' and that is where Dada leads all the way.
Now moving away from the numbers let us give a look at the ground realities.
Saurav Ganguly took over the mantle of captaincy when then entire cricketing fraternity was mired with the 'match fixing' controversy and cricket, in general, Indian cricket in particular, was in complete disarray.
He had to literally rebuild the team, inculcate discipline in them, make them 'believe in themselves' and be aggressive, as compared to the 'meek' mentality that was prevailing then in the team.
Ganguly brought the team to winning ways, showing aggression on the field and developed a 'never say die' attitude.
He was also highly instrumental in developing new talents like Zaheer Khan, Virendra Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, all of whom went on to play very successfully at the top level of the game.
The term TEAM INDIA was coined during Ganguly's tenure and that has come to stay. However, Ganguly was ably assisted in these endeavors by the first foreign coach of Team India, John Wright. Wright also had a big role to play in rebuilding a strong Team India.
As compared to this, Mahendra Singh Dhoni got to inherit a well-knit unit when he took over from the legendary Anil Kumble. Not that Dhoni did not have his own issues with the team which he overcame with his 'super cool' attitude and tasted success.
As such it would be highly illogical to compare the two captains, both of whom had different style of captaining the teams and achieve all that they have achieved.
Yes......purely on the 'overall' number front, Dhoni leads the table.
Well............is it not right and just that APPLES ARE TO BE COMPARED ONLY WITH APPLES......?
K Subramanian
06 March 2013
Dhoni's Body Language is undergoing a perceptible change. it should augur well for the team. Gone are his bland listless looks. he is more energetic and more open with his team mates. he shows emotions when wickets fall. Hopefully, this should improve the team spirit among the players.
ReplyDeleteRight Ramda.........a lot of chanhe has been observed in Dhoni's 'on-field' reactions, of late. He is very expressive of his feelings, whether good or not-so-good........let us hope it works for the betterment of the team..!
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