By winning his debut Test as captain, Dhoni has shown he is ready to move into the leadership role in this format of the game too.  When Rahul Dravid abdicated the hot seat of Indian Captaincy, many felt that Dhoni would be the natural successor, though some believed that Sachin Tendulkar should get a third stint as caretaker captain.  Few considered Anil Kumble for the job.  However the selectors, for once, got the succession right.  At the time they picked Kumble, he was the best choice.  India had three very important Test series in row, first versus Pakistan at home, then versus Australia in Australia, followed by a series against South Africa at home.  Kumble may yet be entrusted with a couple more Test series as captain by the selectors, but Dhoni has shown that, barring the unforeseen, he is ready to pick up the baton when the selectors finally decide to make the transition.

What has impressed most about Dhoni’s leadership is his positive mindset.  The Kanpur pitch, like the one in Ahmedabad, being result oriented, though in a different way, was one where winning the toss was crucial.  It was almost a no-brainer that the captain winning the toss would bat first, thus avoiding batting last on a pitch that looked like a 4^th  day pitch on the 1^st day itself. 

Dhoni lost the toss, and South Africa, promptly decided to bat.  Losing the toss could have demoralized India as the side batting first would have had nearly half the battle won.  When South Africa were sitting pretty at 150 for 1, the thought that the match was slipping out of India’s grasp could have added more pressure on the new captain.  Dhoni however true to his nature, remained calm and collected.  After Yuvraj provided a breakthrough, getting the dangerous Graeme Smith, caught off his boot in somewhat lucky circumstances, he immediately replaced Sreesanth and brought in Ishant Sharma into the attack.  The young Indian quick then repaid his captain’s faith almost immediately by bowling the well set Hashim Amla with an absolute beauty.  Once the new man Jacques Kallis walked in Dhoni immediately replaced part-timer Yuvraj with the dangerous Harbhajan Singh to make sure the new player was not allowed to settle in.  Once again his move paid off, as Bhajji snagged the key wicket of Kallis.  Some may attribute these wickets to beginners luck, but that would be too simplistic an explanation.  It is true that  Dhoni had some good fortune, but he was also bold, and as they say fortune does favor the brave. 

Throughout the match Dhoni showed a tendency to take well calculated gambles, and to ride his luck, while taking the battle to the opposition.  Nothing exemplified this more than when Dhoni asked Harbhajan Singh to open the bowling with the new ball after his tailenders had given him a decent, if not decisive lead.  This move, served several purposes.  It surprised the South African players, who were not expecting to negotiate spin at least for the first few dozen overs or so.  It forced the openers to think on their feet and alter their game plan.  It also sent a subtle message to the South Africans that they themselves who had no spinner of the class of Harbhajan Singh were unlikely to be able to press home the advantage, regardless of how many runs they eventually managed to get ahead of India.  Dhoni’s usage of the street smart Virender Sehwag, also showed mature thinking, as the Delhi stalwart bowled faster and flatter than normal to bamboozle the South Africans.  Even the final denouement was inspired.  After Virender Sehwag blitzed his way to 20 odd in a dozen balls before holing out, he promoted Sourav Ganguly to bat at number three.  Ganguly had been masterly in the first innings, and though he missed his hundred, he looked completely at ease.  This move effectively shut the door on whatever tiny opening the South Africans may have sensed.

This flexibility in thinking, and willingness to think positive was a refreshing contrast to the more rigidly orthodox thinking of Anil Kumble.  It is too early for Dhoni to take on the Test captaincy permanently, but the way he handled the team, gives Indian fans ample reassurance that when the selectors decide to pass the baton, the transition will likely be a smooth one.

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