Rahul Dravid has quit as captain of India's one-day international and Test teams.
India skipper set to stand down for Australia tour
Rahul Dravid has quit as captain of India's One-Day International (ODI) and Test teams.
The 34-year-old led his team to their first Test series win in England for 21 years this summer, emulating Kapil Dev's 1986 side.
Despite narrowly losing a thrilling one-day series between the nations 4-3, the 2004 ICC Player of the Year and Test Player of the Year has told the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he now wants to concentrate on his batting.
Board president Sharad Pawar was informed on Thursday, and India must now select a replacement to lead the side on their tour of Australia from 29th September.
Successor
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is currently leading the Twenty20 squad in South Africa, and
Dravid has backed the batsman-wicketkeeper in the past.
But having led his team to record wins on tour in the West Indies and England earlier this year, Dravid appears set to leave on a high.
Dravid told CNN-IBN: "I want to step down before the Australia series.
"I want to concentrate on my own game. I would still give full co-operation to the team as a senior player and batsman though."
Future
BCCI president Pawar said: "In the last few days he has told me that the captaincy was affecting his game.
"He said he can't handle both the responsibilities, which were leading to small deficiencies.
"He has said he would like to continue to play and improve his performance and also give full support to whoever takes the responsibility to lead the team.
"I think we should respect his view. We have accepted it."
Dravid has skippered both sides for nearly two years, and though not with his team-mates at the ICC World Twenty20 tournament the timing is far from ideal.
India play Pakistan in their final group game live on
Sky Sports 1 from 4.30pm on Friday, and will need to better Scotland's performance against their arch-rivals if they are to progress.
