Legendary cricketer and former World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni recently shared his appreciation for the more aggressive and result-oriented approach in Test cricket. Speaking at an event in Goa, Dhoni noted how the game has evolved over the years, especially with teams now actively seeking to avoid draws.
Reflecting on this evolution, Dhoni remarked, “You can give cricket any term, but the way people play has changed. There was a time in ODIs when certain scores were safe, but now even higher scores don’t feel safe in T20s.” He believes naming playing styles—like England’s “Bazball” approach—adds excitement, but ultimately, each team’s approach depends on its strengths. “Some teams play aggressive cricket, while others stick to a more traditional style. It all depends on your team’s strengths, and you need time to adapt. You can’t change the way players play overnight, especially if they’ve been playing a certain way for over a decade,” Dhoni added.
Dhoni also spoke about the challenge of drawn matches in his career, especially on the fifth day of Tests, where results often seemed unlikely. He explained, “For me, the most challenging part was on Day 5, when it was almost certain the match would end in a draw. Keeping for nearly three sessions with no result in sight was exhausting. Bowlers would still go for wickets, and batters would try for runs, but it felt like going through the motions. Sometimes, you just want the match to end.”
Now, he enjoys seeing more games ending with results and fewer drawn matches. “Imagine explaining cricket to someone unfamiliar with the game—that you play for five days, starting in the morning, ending in the evening, and sometimes still have no result. It’s not ideal for the game,” Dhoni shared. He appreciates the current trend of result-oriented play, where even if one day is washed out, there’s still a strong push to secure a result within five days. “That’s the beauty of Test cricket—you want a result at the end, and it’s great to see that happening more often.”
Dhoni’s admiration for this shift in Test cricket highlights the ongoing transformation in the sport. During his Test career from 2005 to 2014, MS Dhoni played 90 matches, scoring 4,876 runs with six centuries and a high score of 224. With the upcoming IPL retention period, fans are eagerly waiting to see if Dhoni will play another season with Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
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