Overview:
MS Dhoni revealed that he finds face-to-face communication more comfortable and struggles with phone conversations because he can't see the person’s face.
Former India captain MS Dhoni has largely ruled out a career in commentary, calling the post-retirement role a “challenging” balancing act due to the reliance on stats, which he finds difficult to recall. Since retiring from international cricket in 2020, he has kept a low profile on cricketing matters, with his involvement now limited to his IPL role with Chennai Super Kings. “Commentary is quite tough. There’s a fine line between explaining the game and crossing over into criticising players. It’s a very thin line,” Dhoni said during a YouTube conversation with sports broadcaster Jatin Sapru.
“I’m not great with stats, but there are plenty of people who excel in that area. They know their stats inside out. If you ask me about my own stats, I’d have to think for a moment. But there are others who know stats, not just about the Indian cricket team or its players, but about everyone across different eras,” he added.
“At times, you don’t even realise that what you’re doing might be crossing the line. Ideally, you want to stay on the side of just describing the game. But if something feels wrong, you should speak up about it,” he mentioned.
“It’s an art to communicate politely without making anyone feel singled out. If the team is losing, there are reasons for it, and the skill lies in explaining those reasons without offending anyone. That’s the essence of good commentary.”
Dhoni thinks that, in addition to the aspects of commentary, his inability to remember stats, including his own, places him at a disadvantage.
“I see myself as a good listener. I do engage in conversations with people I’m comfortable with, but I tend to listen more than I speak. If I’m not well-versed in a topic, I prefer to stay quiet because I learn more by listening.
“I never feel an urge to contribute if I don’t know enough. Being a good listener means you don’t always have to offer advice. It’s about letting the right thoughts come from the people you’re conversing with. You need the wisdom to understand what works best for you.”
"When initially mobile phone came in it was for benifit of the people who own the phone but now your mobile phone is for my benifit"
— Kusha Sharma (@Kushacritic) February 4, 2026
This is so deep and only introverts like me can feel this who can't even talk to their friends on phone for a long time 😭 pic.twitter.com/3gJXBFP9q5
MS Dhoni revealed that he finds face-to-face communication more comfortable and struggles with phone conversations because he can’t see the person’s face.
“I’m not great at that form of communication. I prefer to speak to people. I’m not very comfortable on the phone because I can’t see the person’s face. So, I am a very awkward guy when it comes to speaking on the phone. It’s something I’d like to improve, but honestly, I’m glad I haven’t yet,” he concluded.