“I don’t even know what he said” - India's Asia Cup star recalls first interaction with MS Dhoni during IPL 2020

MS Dhoni is one of the most iconic cricketers to have played the beautiful game. Young cricketers are often seen at the end of IPL (Indian Premier League) matches talking to the former India captain, trying to pick his brains in order to improve their skills.

Rinku Singh, who is a part of India's squad for the Asia Cup, recalled his first interaction with Dhoni during IPL 2020. The southpaw revealed that he took Kuldeep Yadav along with him to meet the Chennai Super Kings star. Rinku admitted that when he met Dhoni, he was so overwhelmed that he forgot whatever the legendary wicketkeeper-batter told him.

“I’ll tell you that scene. After COVID, there was a tournament, IPL in Dubai. It was our last match, we had lost to CSK, and I was scared, these are big players, Mahi bhai. How should I go and meet them? I took Kuldeep bhai, who had already played with them, and said, ‘Kuldeep bhai, let’s talk a little, about batting, come with me,'" Rinku recalled during his appearance on the YouTube podcast with Raj Shamani.

“So I went, I was a little nervous, thinking what should I say about batting. He was explaining, explaining, explaining, and I kept looking at him, looking at him. My mind wasn’t processing what he was saying. Then the conversation ended, and I don’t even know what he said, it all went out of my mind. Then I gave an interview, the one that went viral. The thing was, whatever Mahi bhai had told me, I didn’t remember it at all, because I was just looking at him. I was talking to such a big player for the first time, so that thing stayed in my mind. That was the scene, I had completely forgotten everything he had told me,” he added.

Sometimes, we talk on call because he used to bat at the same number: Rinku

Rinku revealed that he calls Dhoni occasionally and tries to understand his mindset while batting in the death overs. The Uttar Pradesh batter said that Dhoni stresses the importance of staying calm and having self-belief.

“In the 2023 tournament, we had talked. Sometimes, we talk on call because he used to bat at the same number. So I asked him about his mindset, how he stayed during the last overs. He was saying the same thing, in the last overs it is very important to stay completely calm and to believe in yourself. The number is such that it’s not easy to hit, world-class bowlers are in front of you, so it’s not easy to hit. He used to explain that, whatever ball comes, just react accordingly," Rinku said.

Rinku has played 33 T20Is and two ODIs for India so far. In the shortest format, he has a phenomenal record, averaging 42 with a strike rate of 161.07. He will look to help India win a record-extending ninth Asia Cup title this month.