Underfire Dhoni finds support in Rahul Dravid

With calls for Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s sacking as India’s Test captain becoming shriller with every passing day, the under-fire skipper has got backing of former teammate Rahul Dravid, who believes only the incumbent is the man to take the team forward as there is no suitable alternative in sight at the moment.



"At the moment I don't really see a viable alternative," Dravid said while speaking to media reporters after India’s 1-2 series defeat at the hands of England on Monday. "I really think Dhoni can be the man to take India forward if he has the energy, passion and the enjoyment to do it. That's again the key," added the former Indian skipper.

After starting the four-match series against England on a high, winning the series opener at Ahmedabad by nine wickets, MS Dhoni led Indian contingent lost its head as the series progressed losing the Mumbai and Kolkata Tests by ten and seven wickets. The fourth and final Test in Nagpur ended in a draw as the Three Lions clinched the series 2-1, their first series win on Indian soil in more than 28 years.

Dhoni's captaincy in the series came under severe criticism from former Indian cricketers, including Sunil Gavaskar, Kris Srikkanth and Bishan Singh Bedi, all of them asking the selectors to sack the Ranchi wicketkeeper batsman as Test captain.

"Dhoni should feel lucky that he's still there. He hasn't done enough to continue being the skipper," said former Indian skipper Bishan Singh Bedi on Tuesday. "He's is not a Test skipper. You need a skipper who's worthy of his place in the eleven. Tell me is his 99 of any use to the team," the 66-year-old former Amritsar spinner added further.

The former Indian cricketers’ demands are not based on the recently concluded India-England series only. Dhoni and men have consistently failed to deliver over the last two years. Indian team played 22 Test matches under Dhoni over the last 12 months, winning seven, losing 10 and drawing 5.

Dhoni’s captaincy record away from home is even disappointing as he has led the side to only two wins in 13 matches on foreign soil in the last couple of years, while lost eight – the back-to-back 4-0 series whitewashes at the hands of England and Australia.

India’s next Test assignment is a home series against Australia early next year. But prior to that, the Men in Blue will host Pakistan and England in eight ODIs and four T20 Internationals in December- January.