Mohammad Kaif gives his account on how Dhoni evolved as a legend

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Mohammad Kaif
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Mohammad Kaif. (Photo by Chirag Wakaskar-IPL 2010/IPL via Getty Images)

The name of Mohammad Kaif became closely associated to MS Dhoni in the recent past when a scene from Dhoni’s biopic had a mention of Kaif. Much to the disliking of the former Indian cricketer, the mention was not a very fruitful one. Incidentally, it was Kaif, who was at the non-striker’s end when Dhoni was run out for a duck in his debut game. Since then, both the players have evolved and matured significantly.

In a recent blog post for Cricket Talkies, Kaif wrote at length about how the legend of MS Dhoni was born. His earliest memories of meeting Dhoni dates back to 2004 when he led the Central Zone – a team the former Indian skipper was a part of. He recalled that they never spoke a lot. A year later, Dhoni made his debut and Kaif was seen at the other end when he was run out.

“Captaining the Central Zone in 2004, I had my first chance of meeting a strapping youngster from the hinterland of Jharkhand. Our eyes met the first time in the team bus. But, words were not spoken. Cut to a year later, and MS Dhoni is run out in what is his debut for India. I am the man at the other end. Once again, we don’t speak a word to each other,” wrote Mohammad Kaif.

Soon, Kaif realised that Dhoni was indeed a man of few words. He preferred to keep the company of few people. Moreover, he was more of a patient listener than a glib talker.

Also read – Dhoni saved me from getting dropped from the team many a times: Virat Kohli

“Months passed, as I learnt that he was indeed a man of few words. Not arrogant, just shy. It became common sight to see MS at the back of the team bus, speaking only to a fixed set of players, his close friends. An introvert, who preferred the company of a few…But team meetings remained a place he would hardly ever speak. He would listen attentively, but seldom talk,” added Kaif.

Commending MS Dhoni as a captain he did not shy away from calling him the sharpest cricketing brain. He also rated his captaincy highly because of the way he managed to administer the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh and now mentored Hardik Pandya.

“In my view, he is the sharpest cricketing brain I have seen on the cricket field. I am not sure how he did as a student of math at school, but his calculations on the field were 10/10. From his orthodox field placements, to his unusual bowling changes, to planning his run chases down to a T, he had all the angles covered,” said Kaif.

He further conceded that he has seen some of the greatest batsmen take the field. But the innings that remains etched in his memories is of Dhoni’s 148 against Pakistan at Vizag. He tipped it to be the day when the legend of Mahendra Singh Dhoni was born.

Also read – Virender Sehwag thinks Dhoni retired a few days earlier than he expected

“I had seen batsmen clearing boundaries with such ease in gully cricket, but never before had I seen someone do it with the consistency that MS was doing in Vizag that day. Mind you, I say this having played alongside some of the most destructive batsmen in one day cricket; the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virender Sehwag. That was the day, the legend of MS Dhoni was born,”

Kaif signed off on a note hoping Dhoni continues to amaze the fans in the same way as he is doing right now. “Here’s hoping the man who’s surprised me more than once during his playing career, has one final trick up his sleeve. Go on MS Dhoni, at 35 years of age, prove to us that age is just a number,” he concluded.

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