I Knew What MS Dhoni was Saying but Acted Like I Didn’t Understand Says Former England Spinner

As reels from the latest retirement news from MS Dhoni, cricketers from around the world are sharing stories of the former Indian captain and wicket keeper. Former England cricketer Monty Panesar played four tests against India that featured Dhoni and recalls how he pretended to not understand the instructions that Dhoni was giving to the bowlers.

Panesar while talking to Times of India had the following to say about how Dhoni was behind the stumps “I remember his tips to the bowlers, especially spinners from behind the stumps. Abhi thodi wide ball daalo. Abhi thoda seedha stumps pe rakho. Ye cross line khelne waala hai, seedha daalo. Ye deep mid-wicket pe chakka marega, thoda wide rakhna. (Bowl a little wide now. Now bowl straight on the stumps. He is going to play across the line, so bowl straight. He will try for a six over mid-wicket, so bowl a little wide),”

“I can speak Hindi and Punjabi to a great extent. MSD thought I didn’t understand. I heard everything, but I also acted like MSD, as if I didn’t hear anything. I heard and (then) acted as if I didn’t hear anything. But I knew everything.”

Panesar also sang praises of the retired wicket keeper on his ability to read the minds of his opponents while they were unable to do the same with Dhoni. “He (Dhoni) was very good at reading other people, but people couldn’t read him. That was another strength. You will never be able to know what is going on in Dhoni’s mind when he is at the crease and India need 15 runs per over in the last three overs. And he gets it. How does he do it? That’s MSD’s secret.” said Panesar

Indian cricket fans will still get to enjoy the exploits of Dhoni in the smallest format of the game as he gears up for the latest edition of the IPL set to begin in September. Due to COVID-19, the IPL was first postponed and then followed with a venue change to UAE.