Cricket Pulse

BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah reacted to Team India coachGary Kirsten’s comments on India’s Test captaincy asking him to stay away from media.

Shah also said that it is selectors’ job to decide about the captaincy issue.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s leadership qualities got a thumbs up from India’s cricket coach Gary Kirsten who said the ODI skipper was now ready to take over the Test captaincy from Anil Kumble.

“He (Dhoni) is ready for it (Test captaincy) but there is no need to rush as of now. Anil has done an exceptional job, he is a great leader and he is toiling in many overs for India. He is prepared to do 30 overs in a day. But he is on the other side of the physical side of the game.

“MS is a great thinker. He has got fantastic skills in terms of understanding the situation. He is the best ODI batsman in the world. He plays every situation really well. He is a very good keeper as well,”Kirsten told a TV channel.

While pointing out that a balance is important for the side, Kirsten also made it clear that the seniors players cannot sit on their past laurels and need to perform consistently.

Having seen both the captains from close quarters, Kirsten said both Dhoni and Kumble differed in their strategies but were great leaders in their chosen format.

“Their characters, their strategies are different. Their thinking is different but they both are exceptional cricketers and in different formats of the game they have proved their worth. They lead from the front and lead by examples.

“It’s always good to have captains that are performing well, it makes a big difference to the morale of the team, to the energy and intensity of the game,” he said.

The South African also heaped praise for Dhoni’s batting and his mental faculty which has made him the best ODI batsman in latest ICC ranking.

“I am not surprised that he could do it because he is capable mentally. I think he has worked his heart out, how to win games. Batting in the middle period. It is fantastic to have him in the team,”he said.