Ravi Shastri has said that Rahul Dravid should assert himself more. This comment is more relevant now than ever and Dravid should stop being influenced by the likes of Shastri.

Opening with Virender Sehwag on the fourth day of the third Test against South Africa (as Shastri had suggested at the end of day three) was a huge mistake that ultimately cost India the match. Viru's bad start, which has now become the norm, completely destroyed India's chances of putting up a big score.

More recently, one of the national selectors criticised Dravid's captaincy in the last Test. While the selectors might have gone overboard by talking to the press, the sentiments expressed are not without merit. Though 211 is a small total to defend, it does not explain why SachinTendulkar and Viru were not used as bowlers on a turning track while Sri Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan leaked boundaries.

Dravid is easily India's most dependable batsman -- and as captain, he is continuing to shoulder that responsibility. If Dravid fails, the team fails. This has become the norm. Captaining the side and being the mainstay of the team is a tall order. It can result in a lot of pressure, leaving little time to focus on getting the best out of the team. Just as Saurav Ganguly's success as captain was shaped by the performances of Dravid, Sachin and Viru, Dravid has yet to find others in the team who can get the job done with little or no assistance from him.

Unlike Dada (Ganguly), who is an impulsive, aggressive and firm skipper, Dravid has shown himself to be a shrewd, thinking-type captain. Thus far, his approach has failed to inspire his team-mates to produce, something Dada did well to do in the first few years of his captaincy. Dravid is a far more talented batsman than Dada. This means that he can more than likely step up to the plate when required and deliver. But first he should get his team to produce the best. Unfortunately, the reverse has been happening. Even after taking over the captain's job, he has continued to try to lead from the front. And when he fails, his team have followed suit. It's time Dravid reversed roles.

For starters, it might make sense for Dravid to give the number three spot to VVS Laxman in Test matches. Likewise in ODIs he should consider dropping down the order (which he appears to be doing) in most matches. It's time Dravid made some tough calls, especially related to fading stars in the team. Viru has had his chances and Dravid should no longer stick his neck out for him. It's time Viru was shown the door (no matter how much he is backed by Sunil Gavaskar, Shastri, Krish Shrikanth and other former players).