Dhoni's Love For Regional Commentary: 'Bihari Commentary Is...'

MS Dhoni has expressed a particular liking for Bhojpuri and Haryanvi commentary, appreciating their unique energy and local flavor.

This season, IPL matches are being broadcast in 12 different languages.

Source : PTI

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is underway, and MS Dhoni is once again in action for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Recently, Dhoni shared his thoughts on the inclusion of regional language commentary in the IPL, praising the initiative.

He specifically highlighted Bhojpuri commentary, calling it "energetic" and reminiscent of old-school radio broadcasts, making it a fun experience for listeners. Notably, Bhojpuri commentary was introduced in 2023 season of IPL.

Dhoni's take on regional commentary

MS Dhoni has expressed a particular liking for Bhojpuri and Haryanvi commentary, appreciating their unique energy and local flavor.

Dhoni said: "I haven't listened to regional language commentary much because when we watch live matches, replays are limited, and most of the commentary I hear is in English or Hindi. That helps us analyse the game better. Personally, I also like listening to what commentators say because most of them are former players. While I may be playing 17 games in a season, they cover hundreds of matches across different tournaments and countries. Their exposure to various situations and teams is immense.

"As players, we know our team's strengths and weaknesses, but listening to commentary gives you an outsider's perspective. It sparks new ideas - like ‘why don’t we try this approach?’ - which can then be evaluated based on intelligence and data to see if it fits within the team’s strategy. I haven't heard a lot of regional commentary, but I know that Bihari (Bhojpuri) commentary is highly energetic. It reminds me of old-school radio commentary, where the commentators were very involved. I find that very interesting. Many people prefer to listen in their regional language - it’s their mother tongue, and they want to experience the game in that way. I would love to hear Haryanvi commentary because it’s quite unique."

This season, IPL matches are being broadcast in 12 different languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, Haryanvi, Bhojpuri, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, and Punjabi.