What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
MS Dhoni answered Shoaib Akhtar’s pace and verbal pressure with a century-making assault at Faisalabad: he scored 148 from 153 balls, his maiden Test hundred, and shared a 210-run stand with Irfan Pathan as India took a 15-run first-innings lead. That account comes from an authorized excerpt of Joy Bhattacharjya and Amit Sinha’s Do Different: The Untold Dhoni, published by Scroll.in on July 29, 2022—not from a new interview with Dhoni or Akhtar.
The Faisalabad Test and the crisis India faced
The second India–Pakistan Test of the 2006 series was played in Faisalabad from January 21 to 25. Pakistan made 588 in its first innings. In the book excerpt’s telling, India had reached 236 for one before losing four wickets for 45 runs, leaving the score at 281 for five when Dhoni came in.
The authors set the innings in the context of two unusually high-scoring Tests. They report 1,089 runs for eight wickets in the rain-affected Lahore Test and 1,702 runs for 28 wickets at Faisalabad. Those totals frame the conditions described in the excerpt; they are not a separate statistical analysis.
How Dhoni and Pathan handled Akhtar’s pressure
The excerpt portrays Akhtar as mixing short-pitched bowling with verbal provocation. Rather than answer him with words, Dhoni responded through attacking batting. Pathan, according to his recollection as relayed by the authors, took on the verbal exchanges while Dhoni laughed. It is a portrait of a shared approach, not evidence of Dhoni’s private thoughts.
#1 Best Overall
Dhoni attacked pace and spin, reaching fifty in 34 balls and his hundred in 93 deliveries, according to the excerpt. The authors also report Akhtar deliveries at 153.6 kmph and 152 kmph, followed later by a beamer at 156 kmph. These are figures reported in the book passage, not independently verified speed-gun records.
The partnership that changed India’s position
Dhoni and Pathan added 210 runs. Dhoni finished with 148 from 153 balls, and the excerpt says India went on to take a 15-run first-innings lead. The innings therefore mattered beyond its pace or drama: after the collapse, it helped India move ahead of Pakistan in the first-innings contest.
Pathan also recalls Dhoni describing the pitch as “Kuch nahi ho raha” (“Nothing is happening”). That line, as presented by the authors, fits the excerpt’s wider contrast: Akhtar’s attempted intimidation met a response centered on batting, with Pathan handling the words and Dhoni continuing to score.
What the book’s account is—and is not
Do Different: The Untold Dhoni is written by Joy Bhattacharjya and Amit Sinha. Scroll.in published the Faisalabad passage on July 29, 2022, with permission from Penguin Random House India. It is an authorized book excerpt, so its scene and figures should be understood as the authors’ account rather than as a newly reported reconstruction.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The book’s approach is also intentionally broader than a conventional, single-track biography. In an August 20, 2022 interview with The Telegraph India, Bhattacharjya said, “Since there are so many different Dhonis, there had to be different approaches.” Sinha described the book as having two parts: one that contextualizes cricket moments and another that explores Dhoni off the pitch.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Book editions listed by Penguin Random House India
The publisher lists print and audio editions. Format, ISBN and publication details below are from Penguin Random House India; marketplace availability can vary.
| Format | ISBN | Publisher-listed publication details |
|---|---|---|
| Paperback | 9780143467953 | October 2024 |
| Hardback | 9780670094820 | October 2024 |
| Audiobook | 9789357081603 | August 2023; 556 minutes |
The publisher’s page describes the book as covering Dhoni’s IPL and international cricket as well as his life beyond the game. It lists Amazon among retailer options; check the publisher page or retailer for current availability and edition details.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
