‘I blindly trusted him’ – Yuzvendra Chahal expresses admiration for MS Dhoni for making his ‘life as a bowler easier’ 

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is regarded as one of the greatest ever captains in cricket history, having led India to three major trophies. It has been almost three years since Dhoni retired from international cricket, but his masterstroke behind the stumps are fully visible playing for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.

His batting prowess and wicket-keeping skills are an adornment to his captaincy brilliance as that alone can swing the momentum of any match in his team’s favour. He has nurtured many cricketers and over the years we have seen many of them giving the credits of their success to the legendary skipper, who is admired by fans across the globe.

Yuzvendra Chahal, who has established himself as one of India’s best wrist spinners, recently expressed his admiration for the former Indian skipper. In a conversation with YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia, the 32-year-old recalled how Dhoni’s instructions helped him and that he blindly trusted the man behind the stumps.

“I blindly trusted him. If he used to tell me something, I used to follow it. Ninety-five per cent, I used to follow what he said and five per cent, I used to tell him about my side. When we used to come on to bowl, it was after the 10th over, he used to know what is happening on the wicket and how the surface is going to play,” Chahal said.

“I got a wicket in that over or the next one. That blind trust is very important. I am also his fan. He made 50 per cent of my life as a bowler easier. Otherwise, you come in and send down a couple of overs judging the pace of the wicket. He used to tell us in advance and we used to start attacking from the first over. It was like Mahi bhai ne bol diya to bol diya,” he added.

I’ll reply only if Mahi bhai asks something: Chahal

Chahal made his ODI and T20I debuts in 2016 on a Zimbabwe tour under the leadership of then captain Dhoni. The veteran spinner has so far played 72 ODIs and 75 T20Is for India, taking 121 and 91 wickets respectively in the two formats. He further said that he is a big fan of Dhoni and the 42-year-old is the only person he finds himself tongue-tied in front of.

“He is the only person, unke saamne aate hai meri bolti bandh ho jaati hai [I am tongue-tied in front of him]. I don’t speak a lot irrespective of the kind of mood I am in. I just sit still and reply only if Mahi bhai asks something. Otherwise, I just keep quiet,” Chahal said.