Despite handing over captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad, talismanic MS Dhoni has rejected claims that he is the back-room decision-maker in Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Instead, he is focused on reinventing himself and his strokes to "stay relevant" in the IPL. This came after their IPL 2025 opening match against MI on March 23.
Dhoni discussed the team dynamics under Gaikwad, his own form, and the regional commentary during the ongoing competition.
“Batsmen are now willing to take risks. They believe that with proper cricketing shots, they can play big strokes, and at the same time, they are improvising with their shot selection...whether it's a reverse scoop against a fast bowler, a sweep, or a reverse sweep against a pacer. I am no different, I have to adapt as well. This is what is required of me for where I am batting. You have to try and stay relevant," Dhoni said on JioHotstar.
"The way we played T20 in 2008 and the way we played IPL last year, it's very different. Earlier, there was a lot of turn in the wickets. The wickets were two-paced. Now, India's wickets have become much better; they are more batter-friendly," he explained.
MS Dhoni led CSK to five IPL titles and relinquished the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the IPL 2024 season. He stated that while he discusses topics with Gaikwad, he does not persuade him to take his advice.
"Ruturaj has been part of us for quite some time. His temperament is excellent, he's very calm and very composed. So those were the reasons we considered him for leadership. Before the start of the tournament, I also told him, 'If I give you advice, it doesn't mean you have to follow it. I will try to stay away as much as possible.' During the season, a lot of people speculated that I was making the decisions in the background," Dhoni recalled.
"But the fact is, he was making 99 percent of the decisions. The most important calls -- bowling changes, field placements -- were all his. I was just helping him out. He did a brilliant job of handling the players," he added.
Another player with whom Dhoni has a tight relationship is Royal Challengers Bengaluru star and Team India batting stalwart Virat Kohli.
The veteran stated that their relationship has developed into a strong friendship over the years.
"It was always an honest exchange of ideas -- whether a certain approach was right or if an adjustment could have been made. Initially, it was more of a relationship between a captain and a young player, but over time, as we kept interacting, we became friends. Even today, we share that bond, though there's always a line of respect between a senior and a junior. Now that neither of us is captain, we get more time to talk before matches," Dhoni said.
Dhoni was quite pleased with the IPL broadcasters' decision to have regional commentary for the immensely popular league.
"...listening to commentary gives you an outsider's perspective. It sparks new ideas like 'why don't we try this approach?'...which can then be evaluated based on intelligence and data to see if it fits within the team's strategy.
I haven't heard a lot of regional commentary, but I know that Bihari (Bhojpuri) commentary is highly energetic. It reminds me of old-school radio commentary, where the commentators were very involved. I find that very interesting," he added.
(PTI inputs)
