The Australian media on Thursday said Indian skipper Anil Kumble's performance would have a strong bearing on the outcome on the four-match Test series between the two countries, beginning with the first Test in Bangalore on October 9.
"The leg-spinning Kumble is an astute, humble and skillful cricketer who will have a major role to play in the battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy," Daily Telegraph said in its report.
Kumble, who will turn 38 next month, is under increasing pressure from ODI and Twenty20 captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's supporters to step down and hand over the reins to the dynamic wicket-keeper but the report highlighted Dhoni's batting failure in Australia last summer while crediting the leg-spinner's feat.
"Dhoni can also be a batting hurricane but he failed to flatten Australia last summer, scoring just 141 runs at 17.62 while Kumble, the third-highest wicket-taker in Test history, responded with 20 scalps in an epic series.
"Dhoni has impressed some officials with his deeds in the Twenty20 and the 50-over game, but others are wary of over-burdening a man who had to sit out the entire mid-year Test series against Sri Lanka because of fatigue," the report read.
Dhoni, though, has played down the suggestions, saying it makes no sense.
"I've never given too much thought to these things. There's no point. I'm just happy to be playing the game, playing for the country and enjoying every moment," he said.
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