Mahendra Singh Dhoni might have forged a formidable coach-captain combination with Stephen Fleming for the CSK in the Indian Premier League but the India captain is on the verge of equalling an ignominous record in possession of the former Black Caps skipper — that of maximum number of away Test defeats while leading his country.
Fleming and Brian Lara, with 16 overseas Test losses, have the worst record among international skippers. Dhoni after the humilating defeat in the Manchester Test now has 13 away Test defeats as a leader under his belt.
Three more overseas Test defeats will put him alongside captains with worst Test records — a piece of statistic that would certainly make the Indian captain uncomfortable.
After losing a Test match in New Zealand, Dhoni had surpassed Sourav Ganguly, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Mohammed Azharuddin as the India skipper with worst away record.
The trio had 10 overseas Test defeats and the loss in Wellington was Dhoni's 11th as captain on foreign soil.
However Ganguly has the best record as captain on foreign soil with 11 Test victories, including series draws in England (2002) and Australia (2003-04). Under Ganguly's captaincy, India also won in West Indies, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
Dhoni has so far won only six Tests away from home in the 27 he has led the side.
{{/usCountry}}Dhoni has so far won only six Tests away from home in the 27 he has led the side.
{{/usCountry}}