NEW DELHI: MS Dhoni’s ability to blend leadership with humour was on full display during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 season, as recalled by former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer Mohit Sharma on the “2 Sloggers” podcast.
Mohit recounted a moment involving fellow CSK bowler Deepak Chahar.
During an IPL encounter in Chennai, Chahar bowled a knuckle ball that was hit for a boundary.
Dhoni, noticing the bowler’s struggle, advised him to avoid knuckle ball. Chahar agreed; but a few balls later, he bowled the same knuckle ball again, which this time flew over the batter’s head.
“Deepak Chahar has also received a lot of sticks (from Dhoni). In 2019, Deepak was playing, and I was not. The game was in Chennai, and everyone was sweating profusely. He bowled a knuckle ball that I think was a full toss or something, which was hit for either a four or a six. Dhoni bhai told him not to bowl it again. He said, ‘ok Mahi bhai’. After bowling the next 2-3 ball, he bowled the knuckle ball again which this time went over the head of the batter,” Mohit told the “2 Sloggers” podcast.
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After the delivery, Dhoni, in his classic cheeky manner, told Chahar, “Bewakoof tu nahi, mai hu” (You’re not the fool, I am). It was nothing but an outburst of lightheartedness and mild frustration from the five-time IPL-winning skipper.
Chahar’s 22-wicket haul that season echoed the immense trust Dhoni had in him, as he often made Chahar bowl all four of his overs upfront.
With Dhoni’s potential retirement from the IPL looming, there are calls from his former teammates, including Suresh Raina, for him to play one more season and mentor Ruturaj Gaikwad in captaincy.
Dhoni handed the captaincy to Gaikwad ahead of IPL 2024.
Though troubled by a knee injury, Dhoni’s impressive cameos in IPL 2024, where he scored 161 runs at a staggering strike rate of 220.55, hinted that he may have more cricket left in him.
