MS Dhoni leads Team India in absence of Virat in the optional training session

The Indian team is still in the phase of transition where they are adapting to the new skipper Virat Kohli. With MS Dhoni continuing to hold the responsibilities as the wicketkeeper-batsman it is a lot easier for Kohli as well as others to get used to things. In the first couple of ODIs at Pune and Cuttack Dhoni was pro-active behind the wickets, suggesting the bowlers what they should be doing, Kohli about the fields he should be using and making calls for the DRS.

Today when the team walked out for their last training session ahead of the 3rd ODI in Kolkata on January 22, Sunday Kohli had opted to skip it since it was an optional session and he decided to take some rest ahead of another taxing game. In his absence Dhoni was seen taking charge of the proceedings once again, he went ahead and inspected the pitch, had a word with the ground staff and others to get an idea of how it is expected to play and then briefed the team.

Head coach Anil Kumble was also not around and so the former skipper took the responsibility of getting the feel of the wicket and analysed it with both his hands. It appears flat much similar to the surfaces that have been used for limited-overs cricket of late; there is some grass on it but wouldn’t make much of a difference for the pacers.

Following the two-hour nets, he was accompanied by national selector Devang Gandhi who is a former Bengal cricketer and knows better about the nature of the wicket; they discussed things for some time and Gandhi must have passed on some valuable tips to Dhoni and possibly also the combination the team should go in with.

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When the second ODI entered the nerve whacking phase and England skipper Eoin Morgan was going after the Indian bowlers Dhoni almost took over the responsibility of managing the field setup and also shared his insight with Kohli over other aspects.