former india captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni Retirement has never followed the usual script, and his latest comments only reinforce that image. The 44-year-old three-time ICC Trophy winning captain spoke candidly about a post-retirement path that many legends have embraced but which he seems keen to avoid. In a rare interaction, Dhoni explained why getting into the commentary box is more complicated than it seems, giving us a glimpse of his thoughtful and cautious approach to the game many years after retiring from international cricket.

Since ending his international career in 2020, Dhoni has largely stayed away from public cricket discussions. Indian Premier League (IPL)where he still works Chennai Super Kings(CSK)The former captain has kept a low profile. That silence has often fueled speculation about whether he might one day comment – a move that would be natural for someone of his stature. However, in an interview with sports broadcaster Jatin SapuruDhoni made it clear why the idea did not appeal to him.

“Very difficult to comment on” Dhoni said, stressing that the challenge is not in understanding the game but in analyzing the tone and responsibility of the game in real-time.

At the heart of Dhoni’s hesitation is what he called a “very fine line” that commentators have to constantly walk. According to him, describing a game can easily turn into criticizing a player – sometimes without the commentator even realizing it.

“I feel like there’s a very fine line between describing a game and in the process going into criticizing the people who play the game. It’s a very fine line,” added the Ranchi-born cricketer.

He explained that while analysts may want to be honest and informative, the pressure of on-field commentary can lead to comments that players on the field take personally. Dorney believes that playing it safe – simply describing what’s going on – is harder than it sounds, especially when emotions and expectations are high.

“Typically, you don’t even feel like what you’re doing might be wrong. You always want to be on the other side of the narrative game. If you think there’s something wrong, you speak up,” Dhoni observed.

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Empathy is important when teams are struggling

Dhoni also highlighted the emotional intelligence required to be a good commentator. When a team loses, he feels there’s always a deeper reason behind the performance, and explaining those reasons without sounding harsh is an art in itself.

He believes that reviews are not just about pointing out mistakes, but about presenting context in a way that no one feels left out. Dorney said that balance requires sensitivity, restraint and the ability to choose words carefully – skills he believes are crucial but often underestimated.

“Well, there’s an art to bringing it up politely without anyone taking it personally. If a team loses, there’s a reason behind it, and you need to have the skill to describe those reasons without making anyone feel bad. That’s the art of commentary.” Merck further added.

Another reason Dhoni felt unsuited for the role was his own relationship with statistics. Unlike many modern commentators who are obsessed with data and historical comparisons, Dorney admits that he has never been deeply enamored with numbers—not even his own.

He noted that some experts can easily recall statistics across eras and teams, but he publicly stated that this is not his strong suit. In a format where numbers tend to drive the narrative, Dhoni feels this disparity puts him at a disadvantage.

“I’m not good at statistics. There are a lot of people who are good at statistics. They know statistics. If you ask me about my statistics, I would say ‘hmm’. There are people who know not just the statistics of the Indian team or the Indian players but the statistics of everyone throughout the era.” the former captain explained.

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