Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni left international cricket four years ago, but still has an immense fan base all over the country. Despite retiring from international cricket, Dhoni decided to continue playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was last seen playing in IPL 2024 with a likelihood of continue with Chennai Super Kings in the upcoming IPL 2025. Recently, former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra revealed an incident where he first met MS Dhoni when both players were a part of India A squad for Kenya and Zimbabwe in 2004.
In his latest interview, Chopra revealed how Dhoni’s reverse sweep against Pakistan’s pacer Iftikhar Anjum stunned him. The former cricketer revealed that Dhoni used to bowl to Dinesh Karthik, who was his competitor for a place in the Indian cricket team as a wicket-keeper batter. Notably, before MS Dhoni’s international debut, Dinesh Karthik was being looked as a first choice by the selectors as a wicket-keeper batter for India.
MS Dhoni used to bowl to Dinesh Karthik, his competitor: Aakash Chopra
“ I was like, ‘Who is this guy?’ He never used to bat in the nets. He, in fact, used to bowl to Dinesh Karthik, his competitor. He wasn’t getting the opportunity to play, but he wanted to keep himself involved. I told him, ‘Why are you bowling to Karthik? Why aren’t you batting?” Aakash Chopra said in a podcast on Raj Shamani’s YouTube channel.
“ If he keeps batting and does all the scoring, when will you bat?’ But he replied saying, ‘No, I just want to bowl because I’m enjoying it.’ He is just talented. In fact, he does not practice keeping that much, but his hands are faster than anyone in the world even now,” the cricketer-turned commentator further added.
So that was a very different Dhoni – carefree but not careless: Aakash Chopra
Speaking further, Aakash Chopra said how MS Dhoni hit a four with a reverse sweep off 140 kmph delivery by Iftikhar Anjum. He said that Dhoni used to capitalize each and every opportunity. Notably, Dhoni was star for India A during the Kenya Triangular tournament in 2004 where he scored 362 runs from six innings at an average of 72.40 and a strike rate of 90.15. With this performance, Dhoni grabbed the attention of selectors and earned his maiden India call for ODI series against Bangladesh.
“So that was a very different Dhoni – carefree but not careless. Carefree because he was very confident and happy with where he was, and not careless because when he got an opportunity, in Kenya and not in Zimbabwe, he batted like a man possessed, ” Aakash Chopra said.
“ Before him, I never saw a batter hit a reverse sweep against a bowler. There was a Pakistan bowler named Iftikhar Anjum, who used to bowl at 140+kmph and already played for his country…Dhoni hit him for a four at fine leg. The bowler changed his field, sent back the fine leg fielder and called in the one at third man, but Dhoni smashed the next ball for a six over the third man region, ” former Indian cricketer concluded.