A LETTER TO THE WC WINNING CAPTAIN-MS DHONI

Hey skipper!

What a fabulous shot that was. It was one of those shots when the nation went on it's feet and fans mostly men had burst into tears. What an amazing moment it was. I am falling short of words to describe the feeling I went through. You stayed there till the end and won the World Cup. Thanks a lot.

But skipper that was April 02, 2011. A lot has happened since then. I don't remember when was the last time you played a memorable innings in a Test match. The ongoing series was one of the most anticipated ones in the recent times and everybody expected competitive cricket. But we never looked like a No. 1 team. Whether it's Pietersen's double century, Bell's century under pressure or Broad's hat-trick, it has been the home team which has played competitive cricket. We have never been able to make a mark.

You were the skipper of the World No 1 test team and a lot was expected from you. You have just scored 46 runs (28, 16, 0, 5) in the last four innings. You know what captain? Bresnan who has played just the second match in the absence of Tremlett has scored 101 runs in the two innings apart from taking seven wickets. And not to forget, most of the shots he played were quality shots.

Your helicopter hasn't kicked off so far in the series. Your bowling efforts have been ordinary. Your wicket-keeping too hasn't been impressive. You body language has looked defensive. I won't even give you the credit for reinstating Ian Bell. That was a team decision. Moreover you know very well, what would have happened to the team's image if he hadn't been reinstated. Now people would remember it in the spirit of the game and would praise your decision. So like always fortune once again came up with something good for you.

While the team was struggling, we expected you to at least boost up the players with encouraging words. Instead of doing so, this is what you had to say at press meet, “Getting used to the condition it takes a bit of time because every country where you play cricket, it’s a bit different. The length and the line that you are supposed to bowl becomes very different. It you are playing in Australia its completely different length and line when you compare it to England. So I think you take a bit of time.” MSD how can you say that being the skipper of a World No 1 test team and what do you mean by that. You also said that the team is known to gain a late momentum while touring abroad. Skipper just answer a question of mine. Does this mean that whenever you tour abroad, fans should begin to watch the match since second match onwards, since the first game is the one which you use to gain momentum?


When I look at the captain of the other teams, I feel as if you are not the right choice for the test team. Andrew Strauss might be struggling of form in the ongoing series but are you aware that he has scored 9 test centuries since 2009 which is the maximum by any batsmen since then. The skipper of a World Number one team has to be someone who leads by example. And when I say lead, it doesn't only mean setting up a great field and rotating bowlers wisely, but consistent performances with the bat. I hope you are getting me skipper?

I agree you are one of the best skippers but as far as test cricket is concerned I doubt your abilities to be there in the team let alone lead as a skipper. I reckon Wriddhiman Saha and Dinesh Kartik for me are great substitutes with great strokes and not just helicopter shots. And as far as the captaincy is concerned, well we have many contenders for that.

It might be a rude letter skipper, but once you lead a team whose fan following crosses 1.2 billion people, one has to take the right decisions.

And trust me you are really fantastic as an ODI skipper as long as you keep playing the World-cup-final-like innings.

Truly yours,
Ardent cricket fan.