Dhoni's absence a guide to India's future

If India approach it the right way, MS Dhoni's absence from the first Test at the Gabba could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. His Test captaincy of late has been erratic at best - brilliant at home but botched on tour - and his keeping was below par in England.

His absence provides an opportunity to see what the future is likely to hold, with Virat Kohli leading the side. Every captain has a use-by date, and my sense is that Dhoni has reached his in Tests. He has failed to ignite his side on three tours now - twice in England (apart from in the early stages in 2014) and last time around in Australia.

While India's abject capitulation in all three instances wasn't entirely Dhoni's fault, he has contributed to the failures with his lack of inspirational leadership, strange selections, and shoddy glovework. His lack of footwork while keeping, and consequent failure to cover any territory in England led to a team fielding exhibition that would have been lamentable if it was the local Under-11 matting side committing the errors.

While wicketkeeping is always important, in Australia it is crucial because the extra bounce means it's imperative to select a keeper who covers a decent expanse standing back. Dhoni is not that man.

However, Dhoni is quite capable of holding down a place in the Indian side as a batsman. If Wriddhiman Saha performs well at the Gabba then that is how Dhoni should be used for the rest of the series, especially as India will be looking for batsmen who show grit and determination when it comes to facing the fiery Mitchell Johnson on bouncy pitches.

The only downside would be if Dhoni's presence as a batsman meant the exclusion of Rohit Sharma from the side. Rohit has as much, if not more, talent than Kohli, but so far the latter has shown a far greater mental aptitude to batting in the five-day game.

If Rohit's latest extravaganza - a huge double-century in an ODI - is a sign that he's finally knuckling down to make the most of his extraordinary talent then India will benefit. Another reason why he is crucial to India's performance in Australia is his ability to play the horizontal bat shots.

To succeed, touring batsmen have to score rather than just survive off the back foot in Australia. Given the form Rohit displayed against Australia in Barbados in 2010, when he dispatched the short stuff with ease while those around him were losing their wickets, he will play an important role in this series. Admittedly on that occasion it was a World T20 match, but his execution of the pull shot was disciplined and destructive.

India have much to prove on this Australian tour. While a four-Test series doesn't have much in common with a demanding World Cup schedule, a good showing in the five-day matches could go a long way to building confidence for their defence of the trophy.

However, first things first - India need to show the world they are not invincible at home and easy beats on the road when it comes to Test cricket.

In most cases the loss of a captain for the first match of an important series would be a disaster. However, in this one it may just turn out to be a good guide to what India's future will look like.