BIHARI (BHOJPURI) COMMENTARY REMINDS ME OF OLD-SCHOOL RADIO COMMENTARY: MS DHONI

Chandigarh: Expressing his views on regional language commentary for TATA IPL, MS Dhoni said, “I haven’t listened to regional language commentary much because when we watch live matches, replays are limited, and most of the commentary I hear is in English or Hindi. That helps us analyse the game better. Personally, I also like listening to what commentators say because most of them are former players. While I may be playing 17 games in a season, they cover hundreds of matches across different tournaments and countries. Their exposure to various situations and teams is immense. As players, we know our team’s strengths and weaknesses, but 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. Many people prefer to listen in their regional language—it’s their mother tongue, and they want to experience the game in that way. I would love to hear Haryanvi commentary because it’s quite unique.”

Dhoni said, “You have to look at the long-term picture. More often than not, the batsmen who are part of your core squad and do well for you are the ones you can rely on for a longer period.”

Speaking exclusively on The MSD Experience on JioHotstar, MS Dhoni commented on his latest avatar and adapting his game “You have to adapt according to the requirements. 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. Wickets were two-paced. Now, India’s wickets have become much better; they are more batter-friendly. The size of the ground remains the same. Also, we have started playing slightly earlier in the season, so factors like dew come into play. That’s also one of the reasons why we are seeing so many high-scoring games. I’m 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 also spoke about his bond with Virat Kohli, saying, “Right from the start, Virat was someone who wanted to contribute. He was never satisfied with scoring just 40 or 60 runs—he always aimed for a century and wanted to remain not out till the end. That hunger for success was there from the beginning. If you look at the Sri Lanka series where he was part of the squad, he went back after that and then returned with an even stronger game. The way he worked on his batting, improved his fitness, and maintained his will to perform and keep improving—that’s what set him apart. 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. Earlier, before the toss, we had to prepare and go, but now we can just stand and have a chat.