Bad Time For India: Captain Dhoni drops back down to earth

It has been a galling tour for Mahendra Singh Dhoni - the hitherto untouchable and apparently invincible captain of the world's number one team, India.

After his side won the World Cup on home soil, Dhoni was heralded as the best captain in international cricket and the plaudits never ceased thereafter.

But a mere four months later, India continue to toil haplessly on their tour of England without sufficient runs from their much-lauded batting line up, without wickets from their bowling unit, and devoid of leadership and inspiration.

It has truly been a woeful time for India and, in particular, for Dhoni.

The India talisman has looked apprehensive and anxious behind the stumps with his glovework heavily criticised, and he has made just 126 runs at an average of 25.20.

A very fine, combative 77 in the first innings at Edgbaston was a fleeting contribution with the bat from the number seven, but comparisons with his opposite number Matt Prior do not do him any favours.

Prior has averaged 82.66 in this series, with 248 runs to his name in just four knocks; his keeping, meanwhile, has been exemplary and roundly acclaimed.

With scores of 28, 16, 5 and 0 in the first two Tests, Dhoni's status as India's chief all-rounder - in the wicketkeeper-batsman guise - has been undermined with his team suffering badly in the process.

Many pundits have long noted that Dhoni's batting in the longest form of the game is not disciplined enough to withstand accurate, probing bowling in conditions outside the sub-continent, and are now looking rather smug. 

In Tests outside of India, Dhoni's average drops by nearly nine and, prior to this third Test, he averaged less than 25 over the last 12 months with only two scores over 35.

While it would be grossly unfair for Dhoni to shoulder the blame for his side's incompetence in this series, the leader has not skippered the side in the manner demanded of him.

India have been inept in the field, with two dismal dropped catches on day two just about summing up the sheer despondence running through their performance as a team.

It was another hapless display from the tourists, and Dhoni was expressionless all day as he rotated his weary bowlers and his dark sunglasses could not hide the despondency which was palpable.

Much has been made of Duncan Fletcher's tenure but, given that the former England coach is only in the embryonic stages of his reign, India need their wealth of experienced players to step up and be counted.

Dhoni has been the iconic hero of Indian cricket and continues to captain his side with distinction in the shorter forms of the game, but now he has a new test to overcome.

Can he lift his side from the depths of despair at Edgbaston and lead by example with an uncharacteristically stubborn and Rahul Dravid-esque knock in the second innings?

India may well be set to be usurped by England at the top of the world rankings, but at this stage it is the character and spirit of Dhoni's side which is under scrutiny.

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TALKING POINT OF THE DAY: After England captain Andrew Strauss was erroneously given out off a no ball from prolific over-stepper Amit Mishra, the clamour for the third umpire - who spends most of his day drinking tea and watching daytime TV - to inspect wicket-taking deliveries as the batsman leaves the crease continues to grow.

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