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Dhoni to lead India

Special Correspondent

Virender Sehwag will be his deputy

New Delhi: M.S. Dhoni will lead India in the fourth Test against Australia starting on Thursday in Nagpur, following Anil Kumble’s retirement.

Virender Sehwag will be his deputy. “It will be a smooth transition because Dhoni has already captained in two matches and won both of them,” said national selection committee chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth. “Sehwag will be vice-captain.”

Kumble a role model

Srikkanth hailed Dhoni’s predecessor, Anil Kumble, as a fantastic role model.

“It will be very difficult to find a replacement for such a dedicated, hard-working, great bowler.

“Bowling continuously for 18 years is no joke, and despite all his achievements he has remained a humble and simple person. That’s the greatest thing about him,” he said.

“Anil is also a true ambassador of India, and he conducted himself brilliantly during the controversies in Australia earlier this year.

“He laid the pedestal for India to challenge Australia for the No. 1 spot in Test cricket, and I’m sure Dhoni will continue Anil’s work in taking Indian cricket from strength to strength, and making it the No. 1 side in all forms of the game.”

With Harbhajan Singh expected to recover from the toe injury that kept him out of the third Test, the selectors haven’t named a replacement for Anil Kumble for the fourth Test.

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