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NEW DELHI: Legendary Indian cricketer and former World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni has praised the evolving nature of Test cricket, specifically highlighting how teams now focus on getting results rather than settling for draws. Speaking at an event in Goa, Dhoni expressed admiration for the aggressive mindset teams have adopted, making Test cricket more exciting and result-driven.
Dhoni reflected on how cricket has evolved across all formats. “You can give cricket any term you want to, but what we have seen is that cricket has evolved. The way people are playing is very different. There was a time when in ODIs something was considered a safe score, and now that score isn’t safe even in T20s,” Dhoni said.
He explained that while the terms used to describe new styles of play, such as “aggressive cricket,” may sound exciting, the essence remains the same. “Some people want to play aggressive cricket, some want to play authentic cricket. What’s important is to recognize your team’s strengths and build a style of play around that. Change takes time, and players who have been playing a certain way for years cannot switch overnight,” he added.Dhoni, who captained India across formats and played 90 Tests between 2005 and 2014, shared his personal experience of how the mindset around Test cricket has transformed. He recalled the fatigue and monotony he often felt during the final day of matches that were destined for a draw.
“For me, the most difficult time during a Test match was the fifth day when you knew it was going to end in a draw, but you still had to keep wickets for over two sessions. You would think, ‘let’s finish this and go, why do I have to be here?’” Dhoni remarked. “Now, with the shift towards more aggressive play, the focus is on getting a result, which I believe is great for the game.”
He also pointed out the awkwardness of explaining to non-cricket fans that matches can last five days and still end without a result. “That’s not nice for the game. So I love how there are more results in today’s Test cricket. Even if one day gets washed out, teams still push for a result – that’s the beauty of Test cricket,” Dhoni concluded.
Dhoni’s own Test career saw him score 4,876 runs at an average of 38.09, with six centuries and 33 fifties, including a career-best 224. His influence as a captain and player remains immense, even after his retirement from the longest format.
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