The first week of 2017 has thrown up some astonishing developments in Indian cricket. If this indicates a trend, it promises to be an eventful year: one that could keep the media, particularly, with tongues hanging out: in anticipation of juicy stories and fatigue in chasing these!
Before they could even take guard, the president and secretary of the BCCI (and a vast number of other officials) were bowled neck and crop by the Supreme Court. By the time the week had lapsed, M.S. Dhoni had stepped down from the ODI and T20 captaincy. I’ll deal with the sacking of Anurag Thakur, Ajay Shirke and Co. later in the piece because Dhoni’s resignation from the captaincy had a greater 'suspense quotient’ to it.
While Virat Kohli has been on a roll as batsman and Test captain, and questions were being raised whether he shouldn’t be leading in all formats, there was no perceivable immediate threat to Dhoni’s captaincy. In fact the only matter of imminence was selecting the team for the limited overs tournaments against England starting January 15. A couple of days before this meeting happened, however, Dhoni declared his term over.
“Yes, that’s it,” he is reported to have told chief selector M.S.K. Prasad. Just that. From any other player, this would have appeared whimsical, but when you consider how Dhoni quit the Test captaincy too, this seems to be his manner Dhoni finishes as India’s longest serving captain (in terms of matches) and most successful (statistically) which makes for a remarkable story for a young man from the hinterland who started out in life as a ticket collector in the Railways.
He’s had an unconventional career and has been an unconventional cricketer: unorthodox in his technique and tactics, but driven by a great sense of conviction, and amazing disregard for fanfare or positions of power. Dhoni’s mettle and character I find best defined in the 2011 World Cup final. In a taut match, he chose to promote himself in the batting order. Had he failed, he would have been roundly roasted. But he trusted his gut and went on to play one of the great ODI innings.
After winning the final, however, Dhoni virtually relegated himself to the background, allowing Sachin Tendulkar (playing his last World Cup match) to soak in the accolades and attention of fans and fellow players. Only a very secure, deeply grounded man could have done this. Dhoni, of course, hasn’t retired. Whether he will last till the 2019 World Cup is a redundant question in the current circumstances. He is fighting fit. The power may have waned, but in its stead has come a more controlled approach that blends well in a line-up of several dashing young batsmen.
But while Dhoni’s resignation as captain overwhelmed the news value of the Supreme Court’s action against the president and secretary of the BCCI, obviously the latter development has far greater implications for Indian cricket. The board had been on a slippery slope for non-compliance ever since the Justice R.M. Lodha panel recommendations had turned into a Supreme Court order after the July 18, 2016 deadline had lapsed.
In that sense, the president and secretary being axed is logical. But this may not resolve issues that will emerge from the Lodha recommendations being implemented in toto. As argued in this column in the past, at least one issue — one state, one association, one vote — is mired in complexities.
This has already started playing out problematically. The ODI team selection was tinged with controversy and now there is talk of aggrieved state associations taking on an even more confrontational approach. There could be turmoil and pain ahead. The key is in how the transition from the old to the new BCCI is effected. The interim board to be put in place on January 19 by senior lawyers Gopal Subramaniam and Anil Diwan will have to manage this swiftly, with astuteness and dexterity to ensure that the remedy does not become deadlier than the disease.
