MS Dhoni (Image credit: BCCI/IPL) NEW DELHI: Enigmatic former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has virtually ruled out stepping into the commentary box, describing the popular post-retirement role as a “difficult” balancing act that requires sharp statistical recall – something he admits does not come naturally to him.The 44-year-old, who led India to three ICC titles, has largely stayed out of public cricket discussions since his retirement in 2020, with his presence on the field now limited to IPL appearances for the Chennai Super Kings.
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“Commentating is very difficult. I feel there is a very fine line between describing the game and getting into a zone in the process where you start criticizing the individuals who are playing the game. It’s a very fine line,” Dhoni told sports broadcaster Jatin Sapru during a YouTube interaction.“Often you don’t even feel that what you’re doing might be on the verge of being wrong. You always want to be on the other side where you’re describing the game. If you feel like something’s wrong, say so.“But how to say it is also the art of presenting it politely where nobody feels targeted…If a team is losing, there are reasons behind it and you have to be able to describe those reasons without making anyone feel bad. That’s the art of commentating,” he said.Apart from the nuances of commentary, Dhoni said his inability to memorize statistics also works against him.“I’m not good at statistics…but there are a lot of people who are very good at statistics. They know statistics…If you ask me about my statistics, I’ll be like hmmm and there are certain people who know statistics not just about the Indian cricket team or Indian players, but about everyone in the entire era,” he said.Good listener but not good with phonesKnown for his calm decision making during his playing career, Dhoni was also asked if he ever sought advice about cricket or life. The goalkeeper said he rarely felt the need, attributing his tendency to listen more than talk.“I’m a very good listener. Yes, I talk to people I’m comfortable with. But I’m more of a listener than a talker. And if I don’t know the subject, I don’t talk much because if I listen, I’ll absorb more,” he said.“I never feel compelled to contribute when I don’t know… being a good listener, you don’t always need to seek advice… They still float with only certain people you talk to.“You have to have that intelligence to figure out what works best for you,” he added.Dhoni also admitted with a big smile that he still struggles with phone conversations.“I’m not good at that way of communicating. I like to sit across the street and talk to people. I’m not someone who’s very good on the phone because I can’t see faces. So I’m a very awkward person when it comes to talking on the phone.“So that’s something I want to improve, but I’m glad I didn’t improve,” he joked.“You know, when cell phones were in the beginning, it was for the benefit of the people who own the phone. Now your cell phone is for my benefit,” he said.
