Can someone teach thinking-cricket to Indians?

It is as if everyone knew what is going to happen. Indian started losing right from first match and they were comprehensively beaten in the format they are defending champions. I thought it is tough for youngsters as well as senior players to cope up with NZ conditions. However, never in last two matches, Indian batting looked to be troubled by local conditions. Their own thinking and approach is to blame. It is an in-experienced team in terms of playing in New Zealand. But it is a team in form. I do not recall if Dhoni, Yuvraj, Zaheer were there in the last tour. But, they are champions of this format. They never displayed that quality. It hurts very much to see Dhoni playing like Dravid. If Dhoni did not bat the way he did early in his career no one would have cared to admire him. He changed his game completely. It is understandable for ODI format, and understandably he could do it as he is/was skipper. But T20 is not a game where you defend balls for ever. Not Dhoni at the least. If you want someone to stabilize the innings take Dravid or Rohit Sharma and instruct them their responsibility. Sehwag, Dhoni, Yuvraj, and Pathan – these players are for T20 format. We need them to blast the bowling. Every cricket playing nation knows about Sehwag and they have their own plans. Same applies to Yuvraj and Pathan. But I do not think anyone even cares to consider Dhoni in that list. Maybe, Dhoni should be replaced as captain by someone else in one of the three formats - to give a chance for someone to improve captaincy skills and let Dhoni play like “Dhoni” for heavens sake. We have witnessed how much Tendulkar has gone through during his career. He was given captaincy; he was sent lower down the order and was pressurized in every possible manner. And every time he came back to his original position we know how he performed. I am not saying captaincy is not for Dhoni. He is the guy. He should lead Indians but not at the cost of his own self. You make Dravid keep wickets for 50 overs and ask him to rescue team and play 35 overs and take every catch that comes in his way, and, keep his own self? I guess you are asking for too much. If Gilchrist or Sagakkara does it, that’s fine they are regular wicket keepers and fine batsman. Dravid is not a regular wicket keeper. And in this case, Dhoni is doing it to himself rather than someone else doing it to him. Just for an example, while playing against NZ, can he match their wicket keeper – Brendon McCullum? I doubt that. Dhoni can neither display that flamboyancy with bat nor that quick work with gloves. No doubt Dhoni is good with gloves, but I don’t subscribe to the statement that he is great behind stumps. May be its time he gives up his wicket keeping for one of the formats and lets in a wicket keeper batsman like Karthick or Wriddhiman Saha. I do not see a point in giving more chances to someone like Rohit Sharma. There are enough talented players around the country waiting for their chances. He is either unsettled with his position or his approach. In my opinion he has the best technique among current bunch of youngsters and some seniors too. But he does not seem to have that huger, that urge to score, value for his wicket. Yuvraj Singh never seemed to have liked the word consistency, except when we talk about one single series.

So, every time India gets confused like they are right now, should we look at each other or pray god for another run hungry machine (Which is still running, despite a 20 year loyal service)?