Infosys' new CEO Vishal Sikka can be the new NR Narayana Murthy

The March-June 2014 quarter has been a momentous one for Infosys. While the more immediate concerns about performance have not gone away—no one expected them to, either—India’s second-largest software company has given itself real hope for the future. N R Narayana Murthy has stepped aside unexpectedly and gracefully, leaving the destiny of the company he calls his middle child in the hands of a true technology visionary.

Just as Murthy’s decision to return attracted a torrent of criticism, so his decision to appoint Vishal Sikka deserves unstinted praise. Murthy’s glittering career has been built on a rare ability to think and seize the moment. He has done so yet again. For Sikka, the first quarter of the year is an accurate snapshot of the challenges ahead. On an annualised basis, nearly one in five Infosys employees left the company during the quarter. And Infosys added a net of 20 clients, which is better than the two it added last quarter but still not good enough.

More than a company, Infosys has been an aspiration for almost a generation. Sikka surely is deeply conscious of this fact and has the reputation and credibility to restore company’s performance and image. He could just be the new Murthy.