Dravid resigns as India captain

This just in:

Rahul Dravid has resigned as India captain, Cricinfo has learnt. In a letter written to the Indian board, he has asked to be relieved of the captaincy before Australia's forthcoming tour of India, beginning later this month.

Dravid, 33, has captained India in 25 Tests and 79 ODIs. He took over the captaincy from Sourav Ganguly two years ago, following India's tour of Zimbabwe.

Under his captaincy India won eight Tests, including series wins in Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh and England. More to follow

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Rahul Dravid has resigned as India captain, Cricinfo has learnt. In a letter written to the Indian board, he has asked to be relieved of the captaincy before Australia's forthcoming tour of India, beginning later this month.

A statement from Niranjan Shah, secretary of the Indian board, said Dravid met Sharad Pawar, the board president, in New Delhi yesterday. He "expressed his desire to step down as captain of the Indian team and requested that he should not be considered for the job from the ensuing Australia series."

The statement said Dravid wanted to concentrate on his game.
Dravid, 33, has captained India in 25 Tests and 79 ODIs. He took over the captaincy from Sourav Ganguly two years ago, following India's tour of Zimbabwe.

Under his captaincy India won eight Tests, including series wins in Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh and England.

Get in line SG, i was here first! 2 minutes before.

Have to say quite a dramatic development.

So who would be the next Indian skipper?

Dhoni - May be

Yuvraj - No

Sehwag - No

Zaheer - No

Can you merge this Dello?

What the...? This is more than unexpected I must say. Step up Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Interesting time for him to resign. Well, I cant really think of an obvious replacement. Dhoni?! It's fine for him to be captaining India in the twenty20, but im not sure a wicketkeeper is a good choice as captain for a 2 month Test and ODI tour of Australia. I guess Laxman would be another candidate, for the Test side at least.

Sorry Henry.

I looked at the whole page, but couldn't find your thread, opened a new thread page and then went from my desk for a while, came back and started this thread.

Maybe it might have to go back to Ganguly?

Come on guys, Henry Nolonga wont this race by about 2 minutes!

Its good on Dravid's part that he has given selectors some cushion (3 tests and 12 ODIs are to be played before India's tour of Australia) to choose his successor.

Surely the BCCI would be very reluctant to go back down the Ganguly path.

Oh well, we should probably stick to one thread now.

So, dare i say Ganguly?

I don't think present BCCI establishment would be in anyway averse to Ganguly as Indian skipper. It was basically Chappell's tirade against Ganguly which ensured his sacking from Indian captaincy and subsequently ouster from Indian team.

News that's reached breaking point!

But who else is there? Yuvraj maybe? I don't think it should be Dhoni, unless he proves himself to be some kind of tactical genius in the T20 tournament.

Yuvi a far better choice than Dhoni.

Yeah Dhoni's an a$$.

If Ganguly is chosen as captain again, then the BCCI is more f*cked up than anyone could have ever thought. Considering Ganguly is an 'expert' at dressing room politics, then I wouldnt be surprised if he had subtly contributed to Dravid resigning in the first place.

Tendulkar will say no, Ganguly will say yes, Laxman will say yes. I dont think Dhoni as a wicketkeeper should be the full time captain of the Test and ODI side.

Considering India have just won a major Test series overseas, then I think there is something fishy going on here, ie unrest amongst India's senior players.

Oh f*ck. What thread are we using?!

Ganguly won't accept. Laxman won't get it, don't think Tendlya will accept. I don't know how good Dhoni will turn out to be, but frankly beggars cannot be choosers.

Ahhh something fishy, eh?

seems like both for now.

*bump*