Chasing like Dhoni Book Review: Story of the other India

Chasing like Dhoniby Ayush Purthan and Samod, has little to do with MS Dhoni or, for that matter, the chase. And yet the book manages to weave its story around an inflection point centered on Dhoni.

Issued PenguinIn their works, Purthan and Samod delve into the roots of the Indian cricket ecosystem, which is far from glamourous. Dhoni, who finds very little mention in the book despite being named after him, acts as a pivotal moment in the history of Indian cricket. The authors argue that Dhoni’s selection in the Indian team and then his legendary run as captain changed the way cricket was perceived in Indian suburbs and villages.

Dhoni became a beacon of hope that one need not come from the posh colonies of Mumbai, Chennai or Bengaluru to become a top cricketer. This made cricket feel attainable for the billion Indians who were not from that one percent of the population. Chasing like Dhoni it’s about that dream and the costs – emotional, mental and financial – associated with it. Courtesy: Reuters

RESEARCH AND GROUNDWORK DIFFICULT

The first thing that strikes the reader is the amount of research that Purthan and Samod have put into it. The real gems are the glimpses the book provides into the lives of real characters trying to make it in the world of Indian cricket.

Through their extensive travel during the Indian cricket season, Purthan and Samod are able to find interesting characters from Andaman and Nicobar, Madhya Pradesh and Shillong, all of whom face different challenges and strive to become professional cricketers.

Chasing like Dhoni he is not oblivious to the fact that the world of Indian cricket is chaotic. Many of his examples are laced with dark reminders that the way cricket has been commercialized in the country is damaging to the sport itself.

Inadequate infrastructure in the state councils, corruption rampages in the cities and controversial figures roaming around freely and with impunity are all issues the book openly discusses.

If there’s one thing this book does well, it’s stringing together anecdotes that capture the cricketing spirit of our society. If read in the future, it can offer a summary version of how cricket worked in the 2000s and 2010s, and the social contexts behind it.

STORIES FROM THE HEART

A standout moment in the narrative comes halfway through the book, where an entire section is devoted to women’s cricket. The book highlights the systematic barriers to playing the sport in the Indian hinterland, barriers that become major barriers even before reaching the semi-professional level.

The book tells harrowing stories of places where women are asked not to play for more than a certain time of day because their skin would darken. They talk about how if they don’t harden up during their period, they are scolded by the coaches and how marriage becomes a huge obstacle in their path to a professional career.

The aspect of the marriage is extended through two separate accounts, including former India captain Mithali Raj. Courtesy: Reuters

200-PAGE WINDSHIELD

At just 200 pages, the book offers a leisurely weekend read of stories that shun glamour—and therein lies its greatest strength. The last two chapters are devoted to elite athletes who have not made it through the rat race of selection in the Indian team.

The chapters talk about the mental toll on the players and how a cricketer from a marginalized community has the ability to unite large sections of society.

There are two places where the book perhaps falters – and this is entirely subjective.

First, he abandons what I consider to be some of his strongest stories far too quickly. Two specific examples come to mind. One of them is an Andaman cricketer, the first from his island to travel to Kerala to play.

The other is Disha Singh, a descendant of Baaghi (a dacoit). Disha’s story is explored more than Moore’s, but the book still leaves him after a few pages. There are several such examples which, if expanded upon, could have yielded even deeper insight.

The second annoyance is the language, which firstly reads like an extended news article and secondly relies heavily on statistics and numbers to support its arguments.

It is not necessary. The stories are powerful enough to make readers understand the diversity of struggles faced by young cricketers in India.

LASTING IMPRESSION

Ayush Purthan and Samod’s book leaves a strong impression as it captures the mania of Indian cricket. Without delving into its glitz and glamour, they paint a picture of an India that has turned cricket into a rat race. They argue that cricket coaching centers are now functioning like IIT coaching centers and are feeding on the fear and insecurity of children and their parents.

It’s a grim reality, but that’s how it is, the book says.

Chasing like Dhoni however, it does not leave the reader hanging on the edge of a cliff. It suggests that better sports governance models are needed to address these issues and that India can look to countries like Norway for solutions.

However, he does not elaborate on this idea. But that is perhaps work for another book and another review.

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

24 Jun 2026 17:05 IST