the best Indian captain ever

it is not about who is more valuable to the team Sachin vs Dhoni. its all about who contributes towards team's success. DHoni is a better captain as compared to Sachin. BUt that does not make Sachin self centred or someone who focuses only on his game. If you watch more cricket then gossiping in commetrary box then you will find Sachin mentoring players during crusial situation. He is lan institue of cricket even if you hear him sneeze you will learn something from him. He has come to rescue a lot of time by guiding players on the fields. He is the GURU and not the leader but that does not make is less valuable at all. Leader may have leadership skills etc... but GURU is the person who has knowledge and experience and deep understanding of game which a lot of people lack. Dhoni anyday is a better captain and lets not take away anything from him but you must not bring down Sachin as a player at all this was for a few people who always find opportuinity to mud Sachin's name

Mr Manjrekar, Mr Menon and Mr Bhogle

You all have a selective memory. The first time Sachin gave the cpataincy was becasue of Board's refusal not to have those players in team who were under the betting scandal cloud. As it turned out, it was not just a cloud but a reality.

It is a really a shame that we can't find a Gentleman Reporter for this Gentleme's game,

With Tendulkar, he expected the other players to also be as perfect as he goes about things. Srinath once said this that Tendulkar had too high expectations of his players. So he failed as captain. Dhoni doesnt react at all (even in tight victories, eg. the Mohali win last match). He hides his emotions very well and it helps the team in tough situations. They always have a chance of coming back into the game.

THIS IS WHAT I HAVE SAID IN MY LAST COMMENT IN YOUR COLUMN. THE WAY HOW TO PLAY SHORT FAST BOWLING. ON THE WHOLE HOW TO PLAY FAST BOWLING. SHARMA AND LAXMAN DID EXACTLY WHAT I AM SAYING. THEY STAYED THIER GROUND AND PLAY THE BOWLING AS IT SHOUKD BE PLAYED. THIS IS WHAT I I SAID ABOUT DHONI, UNFORTUNATULY HE GOT RUN OUT. BUT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFULT TO GET OUT WITH THAT BOWLING. LAXSMAN WAS PLAYING CORRECTLY, AND WAS PLAYING HIS GAME OF CRICKET AND NOT PLAYING TO THE AUSTRAILIAN WANTS. LAXMAN WAS NOT PUSHING IN FRONT, HE WAS WAITING FOR THE THE "THE PITCH " OF THE BALL AND WAS GETTING IT TO HIS LIKENESS. I DO HOPE THE INDIAN BATSMEN LEARN SOMETHING FROM LATCHMAN. I AM CERTAIN THAT LAXMAN TOLD TENDULKAR TO PLAY HIS OWN GAME BEFORE HE GOT OUT. THE INDIAN BATSMEN HAVE TO LEARN TO CONCENTRATE ON THE "CUT SHOT (LOW) NOT HIGH OVER THE SLIP BUT LOW BETWEEN THE SLIPS-GULLY. (VISHWANAUTH-JOE SOLSOMOM) COULD BE THE EAMPLE. S.N.SINGH. U.S.A.

Sourav Dada is the BEST ever!! Dhoni is his follower though he has his own style...

I have to disagree with Sanjay Manjrekar's comments on Tendulkar. Certainly to achieve the level Sachin has achieved he has to, no doubt, spend a lot of time on his own batting. But I have seen numerous occasions when he has worked with team mates to help them. Just the day before the current Bangalore test, he was in the nets working with Raina and helping him deal with short pitched bowling. It is interesting to see Sanjay talk about how his "leadership skills" may have held him back as a player. I am not sure what he has against Sachin, but he never passes up an opportunity to say something negative about Sachin. I have heard other Indian team players talk about Sachin's contribution in team meetings. There are different kind of leaders. In every organization (that includes the Indian team), there are at times leaders who work quietly behind the scenes. Sachin probably lacks the special something that Ganguly had, but to say that he doesn't help colleagues in being uncharitable.

One thing was Ganguly brought was end of regionalism in Indian cricket. Earlier there was always criticism that a particular player has been selected because he was from a certain region, say Mumbai or Delhi. Now a days, you don't hear lot of accusations of quota system. In that he was supported by Tendulkar, Dravid and Kumble. Meritocracy was prevailing under Ganguly.

I enjoyed the discussion & entirely agree on Dhoni s a special captain. Having said that you are also true of captains being as good as the team. See for example, Ricky Ponting's effectiveness in the era after Glen McGrath, Gilchrist, haden & Warne retired. Yet another point I always wonder about the luck part particularly of winning the toss consistently - a factor that has made Ricy a more effective captain than he actually is. It will be interesting if Rajesh or some one makes an analysis on this issue of winning toss and winning matches.

Kotur

Agree with the audio, Dhoni has brought calmness to our performance on the field. A Leader should be calm and not paranoid. He might be dealing with a pressure cooker situation but he should not blow hot and cold instead show the way ahead by being calm. Dhoni brings this assuredness to our performances. As we can see, he is our allrounder as well apart from maybe Sehwag and Raina to some extent.