New Delhi, Sept 14: 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.
If BCCI sources are to be believed, Mahender Singh Dhoni will take over as new Captain for the home series against Australia. A decision to this effect will be taken on September 18 by the BCCI.
Although the BCCI did not specify whether it had accepted
the resignation or not, a top board source said his request
would be considered and the Selection Committee will appoint a
new captain on September 18.
"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.
Selection Committee chairman Dilip Vengsarkar said the
committee would meet on September 18 to appoint the new
captain.
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.
Although Mahendra Singh Dhoni was named captain for
India`s Twenty20 World Cup in the absence of number of
seniors, it remains to be seen whether the Jharkhand cricketer
is handed the reins of the team in Tests and ODIs as well.
The Indian team currently has two former captains in
Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar and both could be in the
running if the selectors chose to go for the experience.
But a top BCCI source refused to speculate on any name,
saying it was the prerogative of the selection committee to
decide Dravid`s successor.
Bureau Report
