Mumbai, Sept 14: Mahendra Singh Dhoni is likely to replace Rahul Dravid as captain for ODIs after a sudden decision by Dravid to step down as captain. Sachin Tendulkar is also being tipped to be captain for Test matches, BCCI sources said.
Tendulkar has been captain twice before and vice captain of the recently concluded England series. Tendulkar is also the senior-most player in the Indian side.
Dhoni was recently made captain for the Twenty20 World Cup currently on in South Africa.
India`s most successful captain Sourav Ganguly could also be in the running. The reason behind Dravid`s decision is still not known.
Rahul Dravid on Friday sent shock waves across the cricket fraternity by stepping down as captain of the Indian cricket team to concentrate on his batting, bringing an abrupt end to his two-year chequered tenure at the helm.
"Rahul Dravid met Sharad Pawar at Delhi on September 13 and expressed his desire to step down as the captain of the Indian team and requested that he should not be considered for the job from the ensuing Australia series," said a BCCI press release.
The 33-year-old Dravid has assured that he would extend his full co-operation to his successor and contribute as a batsman and a senior player, it said.
BCCI President Sharad Pawar said he had forwarded Dravid`s resignation to the board.
"He (Dravid) wants to continue playing and improve his performance. Accepting his resignation is not in my hands the decision rests with the Selection Committee, but we should respect his decision. "I have forwarded his resignation to BCCI," Pawar said.
"Dravid told me during the recent tour of England that he wanted to step down. He said captaincy was affecting his batting and he now wants to concentrate on his game. After leading the team for two years, he wants the opportunity to go to some new person," he added.
"Because we respect his decision, we gave the information to the media," Pawar said.
Dravid`s surprise decision to relinquish the hot seat comes barely a fortnight before Australia`s tour of India, during which they will play seven one-dayers.
The Karnataka batsman took over the captaincy from Sourav Ganguly in October 2005 and some of his decisions during his two-year stint came in for criticism.
Dravid, who has played 112 Tests and scored 9492 runs for an impressive average of 56.50, captained India in 25 Tests, winning eight, drawing 11 and losing 6 matches.
In one-dayers, Dravid captained in 79 matches, winning 42 and losing 33 while four matches ended in no result.
Dravid, who opted out of the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, refused to make any comments on his decision at the moment.
"I don`t want to make any comment on this issue at the moment," Dravid said.
Dravid`s decision has put the selectors in a fix to search for his successor in the midst of India`s busy cricketing calender.
Bureau Report
