Virender Shewag Dropped for Australia Tests, Is it all over?

Dashing Opener Virender Sehwag has been axed from ongoing Australian tests which were scheduled to play in Mohali and Delhi. Former Captain Sourav Ganguly feels this is harsh decision taken by the selectors to drop match winning player like Viru.

Virender Sehwag dropped for Australia Tests of Home Series

All eyes were on India’s team selection for remaining tests, as expected the Delhi batsmen has lost his way out from the team. Earlier, his partner Gautam Gambhir has also been omitted for Australia series due to lack of form.

BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale announced the 14 member squad in which selectors decided against picking a replacement for Sehwag. However, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh who was shaky has retained his spot. There was no replacement in place of Sehwag, which suggest that either Shikhar Dhawan or Ajinkya Rahane might find a place in final playing XI.

34-year-old Sehwag has failed to perform in 5 consecutive Tests after scoring a century in the opening game against England in home series at Ahmedabad in November-December last year. Later, he was failed meet the expectations in New Zealand Test series. Viru has only managed 198 runs in 8 innings of Australia series.  

Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid earlier stated that selectors need to take a call on Sehwag. By the exclusion of Virender Sehwag selectors made it clear that any player who is out of form will be dropped looking ahead of Indian cricket future. Selectors are keen to encourage young talents as Team India will be travelling to South Africa and New Zealand later this year.

Sourav Ganguly shared his views saying that, Sehwag is a game changer unfortunately he has been failed to perform consistently, but sure he will make his comeback grand. Dada also hinted there by omitting Viru will now put more pressure on Bhaji. So Hrabhajan should take 5-wicket haul in his next outing?

Dravid felt that Sehwag can be dropped down the batting order and by giving chance to open in home advantage for a new player, will boost his confidence to face some of the best bowling attacks of South Africa with likes of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander in overseas.

The Prince of Kolkata hinted a word of advice to Viru ‘Don't give up, go and play county cricket and you will come back stronger.’ However, Sehwag vowed to make his comeback to Indian Team.

Indian squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt.), Sachin Tendulkar, Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Dinda, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Dhoni surpass Ganguly, Most Successful Test Captain

MS Dhoni becomes India's Best Test Captain to go past Sourav Ganguly, with India's humiliating win against Australia with innings and 135 run win in 2nd test Hyderabad.

Dhoni overtakes Ganguly, India Most Successful Test Captain

It was Dhoni's 22nd win as Test Capatain in his 45 Tests, with a siginificant winning percentage 47, and in process he goes past most aggressive and decisive former captain Sourav Ganguly's record of 21 victories from 49 Tests. Ganguly's feet of 21 Test wins stood for eight years before Dhoni overtook him after inflicting another humiliating loss on Australia. Ganguly is reckoned as India's most successful captain in all formats. 

MS Dhoni's achievement is also worth notice because his 22 wins have come in 45 matches while Ganguly captained India in 49 Tests. What differs Dhoni from Ganguly is the fact that Ganguly had more wins outside of India but the former has more time on his hands now, it seems. Dhoni's latest feat comes after he had previously led the team to title triumphs at the World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007, and in the 50-over World Cup in India in 2011. There was also the No. 1 ranking in Test cricket, which India held between December 2009 and August 2011.

Also, Dhoni has already achieved what Ganguly never managed - a win in South Africa and New Zealand - but still has to prove his worth in Australia and England.

Dhoni has recorded more wins in fewer games than Ganguly. Dhoni also has three overseas wins, one each in New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies. Besides Dhoni and Ganguly, lets check some of Indian Captain stats as well...Mohammed Azharuddin is third in list with 14 wins, followed by Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Sunil Gavaskar are tied on fourth with nine wins each. 

Player	Matches	Won	Lost	Draw	Tied	Win %	Loss %
MS Dhoni	45	22	12	11	0	47.72	27.27
Sourav Ganguly	49	21	13	15	0	42.85	26.53
Mohammed Azharuddin	47	14	14	19	0	29.78	29.72
Sunil Gavaskar	47	9	8	30	0	19.14	17.02
M. A. K. Pataudi	40	9	19	12	0	22.50	47.5
Rahul Dravid	25	8	6	11	0	32.00	24.00
BS Bedi	22	6	11	5	0	27.27	50.00
Ajit Wadekar	16	4	4	8	0	25.00	25.00
Kapil Dev	34	4	7	22	1	11.76	20.58
Sachin Tendulkar	25	4	9	12	0	16.00	36.00

However, Dhoni captaincy came under sever criticism after India's summer of England in 2011, as they lost series with 4-0 and also whitewashed by Australians in their soil in 2012. Later India lost home series to Englishmen to 2-1 on home soil since 1984-85. So, Dhoni's captaincy will be more scrutinised in abroad test.....

India defeat Australia, with innings and 135 runs in 2nd Test Hyderbad

Hope, India comes good under the captaincy of MS Dhoni to retain ICC Test Team..