NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Suresh Raina has revealed how the 2013 Champions Trophy marked the birth of the 'Dhoni Review System,' showcasing MS Dhoni’s tactical brilliance during India’s unbeaten title-winning campaign.
Speaking on a special episode of JioHotstar’s The Suresh Raina Experience: Champions Trophy Special, Raina highlighted Dhoni’s masterful handling of the bowling innings, sharp DRS calls, aggressive field placements, and bold decision-making.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW
“The Oval is a batting-friendly surface, but in Wales, you need to assess both the sky and the pitch. This is where the Dhoni Review System began—every DRS he took was spot on,” Raina said.
Recalling India’s dominant eight-wicket victory against the West Indies, Raina praised Dhoni’s field setups, noting how he positioned Virat Kohli in the slips, Ravichandran Ashwin at leg slip, and himself behind the stumps to create relentless pressure. “This was the rise of T20-style aggression. Dhoni’s masterstroke was bringing in spinners and challenging them to attack.”
Ravindra Jadeja’s outstanding spell of 5-36 was another highlight of that match, and Raina lauded his teammate’s impact. “Jadeja and Ashwin bowled exceptionally well. Dhoni knew the opposition would try to take on the spinners, but Jaddu’s accuracy made him a different kind of all-rounder,” he said.
He further explained Jadeja’s effectiveness that year: “On dry wickets, he was lethal. He bowled fast spin with impeccable accuracy. MS knew that if Jadeja could target the stumps for 35-40 deliveries out of 60, he would take five wickets.”
The 2013 campaign also saw part-time bowlers like Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Raina himself stepping up when Dhoni needed them. Raina reflected on Kohli’s contributions with the ball while crediting Dhoni’s leadership.
“Virat loved bowling until he developed back tightness. In England, medium pacers enjoy the conditions, and he knew he could contribute 3-4 overs. But credit goes to MS — he knew exactly how to extract those extra overs: ‘Virat, come here. Rohit, come here. Raina, come here.’ That’s 10 overs right there,” Raina concluded.
The Rohit Sharma-led side will begin their ICC 2025 Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.
