India awaits new captain after Dravid's sudden exit

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NEW DELHI, Sept 17 (Reuters): Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Dhoni are candidates to replace Rahul Dravid as Indian cricket captain after his shock decision to step down last week, local media reported Monday.
Selectors are due to meet Tuesday to choose a new captain and Indian media suggested selectors had sounded out Tendulkar about returning for a third stint as captain and were waiting for a response from the premier batsman.
Tendulkar's last term in charge ended seven years ago when he quit following a 3-0 test series drubbing in Australia.
Selectors have little time to play.
Australia arrive for a one-day series from Sept. 29, and then India play a one-day and test series with Pakistan until December before embarking on a test tour of Australia.
A senior board official said Monday it was likely a captain would be chosen only for the two one-day series.
Former skipper Ajit Wadekar criticised India's cricket board for not trying to persuade Dravid to stay on.
"There is no apparent replacement easily available," Wadekar told Reuters from Mumbai. "He seemed to be doing extremely well. He looked every inch a captain”.