'The ground is bouncing, vibrating,' - Joe Root opens up on experience of watching MS Dhoni walk out to bat in IPL

Overview

• Joe Root claimed that experiencing MS Dhoni walking off to bat in the Indian Premier League was incredible
• The English batter claimed that he felt as if the ground was bouncing and the floor was vibrating in a literal sense
• Root said that Dhoni's presence and the crowd's reaction have a huge impact on the opposition team and its players

Joe Root claimed that experiencing MS Dhoni walking off to bat in the Indian Premier League was incredible. The English batter claimed that he felt as if the ground was bouncing and the floor was vibrating in a literal sense. Root said that Dhoni's presence and the crowd's reaction have a huge impact on the opposition team and its players.

Ahead of the Ashes 2025/26, Root showed up in The Howie Games podcast as a guest. The star batter revealed how he felt watching Dhoni walk out to bat in the IPL as an opposition player. Given how the sea of yellow erupted, chanting Dhoni's name, Root claimed it was an amazing experience.

Also Read: List of all Head Coaches in IPL 2026 ft. Stephen Fleming

"During the IPL, when MS Dhoni walks out to bat, you actually get the feeling that the ground is bouncing, it's vibrating. The floor is vibrating. A sea of yellow chanting his name. The impact he has on the opposition players is just incredible. What an experience that was," Root said in a podcast on The Howie Games.

What's next for MS Dhoni and Joe Root?

Dhoni has started to prepare for the IPL 2026 ahead of the auction. The star player did not have as good a season with the bat in 2025, compared to the 2023 and 2024 seasons, and would hence be hoping to be better in 2026.

Also Check: Punjab Kings' co-owner talks about team culture ahead of IPL 2026 auction

On the other hand, Root has probably the toughest challenge of his career in the Ashes 2025/26. The middle-order batter has never scored a hundred in Australia in Tests, which is one of the talking points. He hopes to change things for good and erase a small blot in his Test career.