Rahul Dravid [Images] was named the captain of the Indian team for the for the one-day international home series against Sri Lanka [Images] and South Africa.

The Karnataka batsman took over the reins from Sourav Ganguly [Images], who is nursing an elbow injury.

• Have your say: Is Dravid the right choice?

Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary S K Nair said the selectors were unanimous in their decision to appoint the 32-year-old. He also added that the decision to appoint Dravid had nothing to do with Ganguly's injury.

But what do our readers think of Dravid's appointment?

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Dear Readers,

At present scenario I personally feel that Dravid is far better choice that Ganguly to captain India against Sri Lanka and South Africa home series coming October and November.

Before comparing statistics of Dravid & Ganguly, we should take care of one thing that Ganguly was permanent captain for last few years while Dravid took the charges when Ganguly was out of team for some reason or other. We can not compare two captains simply because Ganguly leaded India in 146 while Dravid took the charge for 17 matches only.

I know on statistics Ganguly is best captain for India. But that was past. Let's think of something for the present Indian cricket condition and take India into prosperous future.

At present Dravid is in far better form than Ganguly. If Ganguly wants a place in India team as captain or as player he has to show good form in our domestic cricket.

Let's give Dravid a chance with cool mind and with long term perspective not to win few series. It might possible that India will play best of its cricket in entire series but lose the crucial final game. This is very important for evaluation point of view that only result should not be the criteria for judging captainship. If it is then Ganguly should have left the Job few years back. As India lost 19 finals out of 20 finals played in last few years.

My sincere request to all form of communication be it print, electronic or mass media please don't make Indian cricket your dirty gossip items.

Leave Indian cricket in respective form. And discuss only critical and enjoyable issue. Not the issues like Dravid vs. Ganguly.

I wish good luck to Indian cricketers including Greg Chappell [Images] and hope Indian cricket will again reach a new heights.

Navneet Singhal

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Dear Sir / Madam,
 
In my opinion, he will be able to do a better job than Mr. Saurav Ganguly [Images].
 
Regards ...

G. Ashok Prabhu.

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Dear sir

NO Dravid is a bad choice

Reasons:
1) Dravid is not fit for the today's one day games. 
2) Previously he was in the ODI team because of his dual role of wicket keeping & batsman, now that is not there.
3) Dravid is declared as  a captain because there is no other alternative for India

I feel that if the dravid is a forced captain for India,  its better to appoint sachin as captain, he is definitely a best ODI player & we can find a place for good new comer on behalf of dravid in ODI

The world cup is in 2007 so we have some time to develop good new players within that time. We also have to develop a new captain within that time so we can name him a captain immediately after the world cup.

A.S. Godbole
Ebene Cybercity,
Mauritius.

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Considering  the form of Saurav Ganguly and his fitness , Rahul Dravid is the best choice for the Indian team as of now.

thank you
rajesh

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Hi,

We all remember the situation which led to Sachin losing the Captaincy.  Now Saurav is in a similar situation. I feel he cannot cop up with the dual responsibilities as a good player as well as a competent captain. He badly needs a break from the burden of captaincy. The simple logic is that you can be in the team even if you are not the Captain, but you cannot be a Captain if you are not in the team as a player. So let him retain his place in the paying squad than being desperate to retain his Captaincy and every body look forward to his good performance as a player.

Dravid is mature enough to be the captain for the time being and as long as he can be successful in that hot seat and meantime let Saurav concentrate in his batting and improve his  performance. There is still time for world cup and by that time we will have the choice of these two persons for the captain's post.

Good luck to Saurav and same to Rahul too.

Regds

Jayaprakash

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Rahul Dravid had been acting as a deputy to Saurav Ganguly for many years. But the timing of naming him as captain of India is absolutely wrong. He may be an excellent batsman but he is not a captain material nor he is a good motivator of team India, which is the utmost necessity of this Indian team. Saurav has been the most successful captain of India and the last series win in Zimbabwe came after long years. He has so many records in his bag, but it is a shame for India that this country loses a much more effective, agile and motivating captain of all times. It is the most black letter day of Indian cricket. Saurav has become victim of the dirty politics of Indian Board, especially the south lobby and a man called Raj Singh Dungarpur, who has absolutely no contribution to Indian Cricket.

Sudip Chakraborty

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To some extent and in present contest of crisis it is apt to have Dravid as the full fledge captain. In my opinion, ODI team should have VVS Laxman as the deputy to him and he should be the future prospect for the post. It is unfortunate to note VVS is always deprived of his share in ODI team.
 
A R Chary

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It was absolutely essential that David be made captain. If Ganguly was persisted with it would have been disastrous. Sure he was India's best captain, but he should have stepped down gracefully.

You know what they say, "Its best to go when people ask why, rather than why not?"

George

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Rahul Dravid's annointment as India captain is the right decision. However, it seems that the selectors have rendered themselves to the whims of coach by not including Saurav Ganguly in the team. He is scheduled to give fitness test in three days' time. This is not the treatment that Ganguly deserves. Even Tendulkar did not score in many matches and in particular in crunch situations Sachin has always vanished early in the innings.
 
Pankaj Maheshwari

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As per Ganguly's form today, he can not continue in the team. His past records are good. But we need a captain who also play up to the level. Dravid should give a long term captaincy (atleast for a year)  in both test and odi's. Then only he can prove whether he suits for the post or not.

Best wishes to Dravid

Manoj

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Dravid under any circumstances is a better choice than Ganguly as a captain.His biggest plus points are his:
1OUTSTANDING ATTITUDE
2.DETERMINATION
3.DEDICATION
4MATURITY
5.LEVEL-HEADEDNESS
6.DEPENDABILITY
7.RESPONSIBILITY
 
IN SHORT HE IS A GENUINE ASSET TO INDIA.
Regards,
Sunil Daswaney.

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This will definitely be a great advantage for India as he is quite capable of taking out the best from Current Indian Side. Dravid becoming captain is a great thing and will prove to be one of the better steps taken by our Selectors.
 
Rahul

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To the selectors of the Indian Cricket Team, you have done your country a service in electing Dravid as Captain. Ganguly, even though a fantastic and dynamic player in "his time", needs to prove himself on the domestic circuit. He needs runs to cement his spot in Indias' star studded team.

WELL DONE!!!

It was a brave decision but the correct long term decision.The younger players need grooming and guidance and I believe Dravid is the man.His patience and intellect on the game will pay off in the long run.

HOORAY!

Michael ( from Melbourne).

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Congratulations to Rahul Dravid on being appointed captain of India.It gives me a feeling that being appointed captain on the auspicious Dassera day will bring a lot of luck and success to this great Indian cricketer.
 
Rahul once told me that after a certain stage you should stop thinking of Club or State but think INDIA. Can we please stop being regionalistic and start being INDIAN? Saurav has had his time and has done wonderfully well. I am sure no one can live on past laurels.Rahul is the need of the hour.So be it!
 
What is this about the most successful captain ? No captain wins on his own!!! It is a team effort I thought!  Before the advent of the professional coaches and trainers the captain had a whole lot work to do. Technology has further helped the captain's cause. With all this and a superbly talented and proffessionally prepared team Saurav should be grateful he was at the right place at the right time.

Irfan Sait,
Bangalore

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Only  time  can  say the final verdict. From the statistical point of view  Ganguly  contributed  much  more  than what  his  detractors are  willing  to give  him  as  Captain  and  also  as  a batsman  in ODI.However  he  failed  to  show  maturity  if  certain  field  of action  out side and inside the field.Being captain of India for last four to five years he should have learnt the art of restrained media delebration.Even if he was under stress and provocked  as  a Captain  he should  have  remained  non commital in  reply to the media question of him being asked to leave Captaincy.

He should have said :I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE-IF YOU HAVE IT IS YOUR CONCERN: But much before that he made a cardinal mistake for not concentrating on his deserting bating form and look for ways to rectify the areas of weakness against fast moving ball.He is too good and experience a player to understand that.If the coach was not accomodating he should have taken council from Sunil Gavaskar [Images] who is no less qualified than Greg Chappel.Ganguly is paying for his own doing.

HE SHOULD HAVE REMEMBERED THAT PERFORMANCE ALONE COUNT IN INDIAN CRICKET. Rahul Dravid is a sober player.He will never put his own neck to come to rescue for other player without knowing which way the wind of the coach is blowing.He will leave it to the selected players to erform based on which you stay or let coch decide what he want.In a way from now on coach will be non playing Captain and non voting selection board.Rahul will fit in these situation very well.This will also help him to concentrate in his own performance.PERHAPS INDIAN CRICKET SAW THE LAST OF SAURAV GANGULY-SAD

BUT TRUE.THE KING IS DEAD-LONG LIVE THE KING.It shall be interesting to follow INDIAN cricket.

SAUVIK,LEEDS UK

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I think Dravid is a best player & he will prove himself as a good captain. No one can prove himself in just couple of series. So Chance should be given him and Greg Chappell is a very positive cricketer that why its very important that there should be good relationship between coach and the captain.

Regards

Rohit Gahlaut

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While Dravid is a very keen student of the game, a reliable batsman, and a pleasnat , intelligent guy, he does not appear combative enough to make one feel that he has the killer instinct.
 
Ganguly was aggressive and showed a lot of spirit on the field. He gives one the feeling that he is selfish, particularly going by the number of occasions when he runs his partners out.
 
Dravid and all other captains must learn the combative attitude from the Bengali boss.
 
Ramesh

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Yes Dravid is the Best option for the Next world Cup.

Thanks And Regards

George Mathew

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no, i dont think

selectors have done a disaster to indian cricket by sacking ganguly who has been a successful captain

in dravid i will see the team would become worse as it was under Captaincy of Tendulkar

Balaji S
New Delhi

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