How the 2013 Champions Trophy Gave Birth to ‘Dhoni Review System’ – Suresh Raina Reveals
Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has shared how the world saw the rise of the ‘Dhoni Review System’ (DRS) during India’s iconic 2013 Champions Trophy campaign. In a special episode of ‘The Suresh Raina Experience: Champions Trophy Special’ on JioHotstar, Raina gave an inside look into MS Dhoni’s tactical genius, explaining how his spot-on DRS calls, smart field placements, and bold decisions played a huge role in India’s success.
India’s Perfect Champions Trophy Run – India’s 2013 Champions Trophy victory was nothing short of perfect – they went undefeated throughout the tournament, outplaying every top team that came their way. One of their standout performances was against West Indies, where India dominated with an easy eight-wicket win. In this episode, Raina highlighted Dhoni’s ability to read the game like no one else, with a special focus on his incredible use of DRS and how it became a game-changer.
MS Dhoni’s Tactical Brilliance on the Field – Talking about that memorable campaign, Raina recalled how The Oval was a great batting surface, but the tricky English weather conditions meant teams had to be extra smart. And no one understood this better than MS Dhoni.
“The Oval is a great batting wicket, but in England, you can’t just look at the pitch—you have to look at the sky too. That’s exactly how the ‘Dhoni Review System’ was born. Every time he took a DRS call, he got it right,” Raina said. He also pointed out how Dhoni’s aggressive approach on the field kept the opposition under pressure. “Just look at how he kept wickets—always sharp, always alert. But the best part? He set the field aggressively. Virat Kohli was in the slip, Ashwin was at leg slip, and Dhoni was behind the stumps, constantly thinking ahead. He knew exactly how to choke the opposition. This was also when T20 cricket had started changing the game—players were attacking more, and Dhoni used that to his advantage. His masterstroke was bringing in spinners and daring the batsmen to take them on,” Raina explained.
Ravindra Jadeja’s Match-Winning Spell & Dhoni’s Faith in Him – Raina made sure to appreciate Ravindra Jadeja, whose sensational 5-wicket haul (5/36) was a key factor in India’s win. “Jaddu and Ashwin were just brilliant with the ball. Dhoni knew that the opposition would try to take on the spinners, and he played his cards perfectly. But credit goes to Jadeja—he was outstanding. He stuck to the stumps and showed why he was a game-changer,” Raina said.
Jadeja’s Deadly Accuracy – Dhoni’s Secret Weapon – Raina recalled how Jadeja was at his absolute best that year, making life difficult for batsmen with his speed and accuracy. “Jadeja was in top form across all formats. If the pitch was dry, he was even more dangerous. He bowled at a good pace, and batsmen barely had time to react. On top of that, his accuracy was spot on,” Raina said. He also explained why Dhoni had complete trust in Jadeja’s bowling. “Jaddu bowled quick spin with sharp angles, and Dhoni knew that if he could bowl 35-40 balls out of 60 on the stumps, he would end up taking wickets. And that’s exactly what happened,” he added.
When Kohli, Rohit & Raina Turned into Bowlers – That tournament also saw part-time bowlers like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and even Raina himself stepping up whenever needed. Raina shared how Dhoni had a unique ability to use part-time bowlers wisely.
“Virat was one of the best batsmen, but he also loved bowling until his back issues started. Bowling in England is always fun for slow-medium pacers, and Virat knew he could deliver a few overs when needed. That’s where Dhoni’s captaincy made a difference. He knew exactly how to get the most out of his part-time bowlers. He would just call out – ‘Virat, come here. Rohit, come here. Raina, come here. That’s 10 overs sorted!’ It was all planned,” Raina revealed.
Dhoni’s Captaincy – The Perfect Balance – Wrapping up, Raina spoke about how Dhoni and the team management ensured that non-regular bowlers were always ready, which gave India a solid backup plan. “We had five frontline bowlers – Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja. But what if we needed extra overs? Virat could bowl three, Rohit could bowl two, and I could bowl one or three if needed. That’s where Dhoni had an edge—he created the perfect balance, which is never easy to do,” Raina concluded. With Dhoni’s smart strategies and his unmatched ability to read the game, India’s 2013 Champions Trophy win remains one of the most unforgettable victories in cricket history.
