Mahendra Singh Dhoni recently cleared up rumors about him being the secret decision-maker for the Chennai Super Kings, especially now that he has passed the captaincy over to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Dhoni emphasized that his focus is on reinventing his own game and keeping himself relevant in the IPL. After CSK clinched a four-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians in their first match of the season, Dhoni chatted with ‘JioStar’ about how things have changed within the team under Gaikwad’s leadership, his personal performance, and some interesting commentary going on throughout the league.
He pointed out that today’s batsmen seem to have more confidence in taking risks. They feel that by using proper cricketing strokes, they can go big, and they’re getting creative with their shot selection too. Whether it’s a reverse scoop against a fast bowler or a reverse sweep, players are testing the limits
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Dhoni mentioned, “Hey, I’m no different. I have to adapt, too. If I want to keep playing, I have to keep up with what’s happening.” He reflected on how drastically T20 cricket and the IPL have evolved since they kicked off in 2008. Back in the day, pitches used to have a lot of turn and were pretty unpredictable. Nowadays, wickets in India are way more batter-friendly, allowing for a different style of play.
At 43 years old, Dhoni, who has led CSK to five IPL titles, officially handed the captaincy reins to Gaikwad as the 2024 season unfolded. While he still talks strategy with Gaikwad, Dhoni made it clear that he doesn’t push his ideas onto him.
“Ruturaj has been with us for a while now, and he’s got a solid temperament—calm and composed,” Dhoni shared. “I told him before the season started that if I give advice, he doesn’t have to take it. I want him to have the freedom to make his own calls.” He added that a lot of people think he was still the one making the calls from behind the scenes, but in reality, Gaikwad was making the bulk of the decisions, and Dhoni was just there to lend a hand. “He did a fantastic job managing everyone,” Dhoni praised.
Dhoni mentioned another important friendship in his life: his bond with Virat Kohli from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Their relationship began as one between a captain and a younger player but has grown into a solid friendship as time went on.
“Our chats have always been honest, sharing ideas about whether certain tactics were correct or if we could tweak something,” he said. “Now that neither of us is a captain, we have more time to connect before games.”
On the topic of the IPL broadcast, Dhoni expressed his appreciation for the introduction of regional commentary.
He said it provides a fresh perspective, sparking new ideas, and encourages teams to think outside the box, evaluating these ideas with data to see if they align with the team’s game plan. Dhoni admitted he hasn’t listened to much of the regional commentary yet, but he has heard that Bhojpuri commentary is really energetic. It feels nostalgic, almost like the old-school radio days where commentators were super involved. I find it really fascinating,” he added.
