Former Indian cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar has expressed his disappointment with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its selection committee for not utilizing the opportunity to groom a young player as captain during India’s overlapping tours. Vengsarkar believes that instead of appointing Shikhar Dhawan as captain, the selectors could have identified and prepared a new leader for the team.
In 2021 and 2022, India had a packed cricket calendar with consecutive series and tours. To manage the workload of the main squad members and provide them with sufficient rest, the selectors sent B teams for some overseas tours, with the experienced Shikhar Dhawan leading the side.
Although India achieved commendable results and secured victories in multiple series under Dhawan’s captaincy, Vengsarkar feels that the selection committee missed an opportunity to test a younger player as a leader and groom them for future responsibilities.
Vengsarkar expressed his concerns, stating, “The unfortunate part is that the selectors I have seen over the last six-seven years neither have the vision, deep knowledge about the game or cricketing sense. They made Shikhar Dhawan India captain (when tours overlapped and main players were unavailable); it is where you can groom the future captain.”
The former cricketer believes that such overlapping tours provide an ideal platform to identify and nurture potential captaincy prospects who can lead the team in the future. By appointing a young player as captain during these periods, the BCCI and selection committee could have evaluated their leadership skills and provided them with valuable experience at the international level.
Vengsarkar’s comments highlight the importance of long-term planning and strategic thinking when it comes to grooming future leaders for the Indian cricket team. While Dhawan’s captaincy yielded positive results, Vengsarkar believes that exploring younger options during overlapping tours could have been a valuable investment in the team’s future.
It remains to be seen how the BCCI and the selection committee approach captaincy decisions in similar situations going forward. As the Indian cricket team continues to evolve, the identification and development of young leaders will play a crucial role in maintaining the team’s success in the long run.
