Teams started fielding first after Dhoni and Yuvraj revolutionized chasing, opines Ajit Agarkar

After having perennially struggled to find half-decent batsmen - let alone good finishers - down the order, the rise of MS Dhoni and the maturing of Yuvraj Singh towards the end of 2005 gave India something they never previously had at their disposal - two world-class, hard-hitting young finishers capable of winning matches single-handedly. The duo struck an instant bond and their partnership peaked in early 2006 when an unbeaten 102-run stand between the two in Lahore helped India chase a monstrous 289 when the team was under the pump. 

That was the beginning of something spectacular and special in Indian cricket, but, according to former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar, the impact of Dhoni and Yuvraj extended beyond just India. The 42-year-old opined that Dhoni and Yuvraj, through their hard-hitting, revolutionized the art of chasing and flipped the ‘bat first’ narrative that was prominent within captains in ODI cricket in the mid-2000s. 

“Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh changed the concept of chasing in ODIs. They were so good at it that after their success, other teams also started to field first on winning the toss," Agarkar was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Agarkar, who played 191 ODIs for India, did not get to play under the leadership of MS Dhoni in the 50-over-format (he played under Dhoni's captaincy in World T20 2007) but, nevertheless, crossed paths with the wicket-keeper and was part of the same team as the Jharkhand man on multiple occasions. Having represented India in ODIs till 2007, Agarkar was one of the lucky few who got to witness Dhoni’s bludgeoning knocks - including his 183* in Jaipur - first-hand and the 42-year-old recalled the crazy atmosphere inside the dressing room during the wicket-keeper batsman’s masterclasses in the middle.

“His 183 not out versus Sri Lanka at Jaipur (2005) and the chase at Lahore (ODI vs Pakistan, 2006)—Sri Lanka had posted a massive total and Dhoni batted at No. 3 and won it. The atmosphere in the dressing room went crazy when he started smashing sixes. At Lahore too, Pakistan had posted a very good total and their bowlers were in fine rhythm. Dhoni finished it off with a big partnership with Yuvraj.”