Former CSK captain MS Dhoni chose not to disclose the message he sent to RCB star Virat Kohli in 2022 but instead spoke about how their bond has grown over time ahead of the IPL 2024 season. Kohli previously revealed that Dhoni was the only cricketer who reached out to him via text after he stepped down as India’s captain in 2022.
Kohli had taken over the leadership role across formats from Dhoni, who successfully led the team in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Speaking on JioStar, Dhoni addressed his message to Kohli and reflected on their relationship:
“I will talk about the relationship, not the message. I like to keep it the way it is. What it does is, it lets other cricketers come to me and ask if they have anything in their mind. They have the feeling: ‘Speak whatever you want to him, nothing will come out.”
He further added:
“Whatever we speak, a third person wouldn’t know it’. That trust is very important, especially for cricketers who you have not played with, who you might never play with. But, hey might need some help, regarding cricket, regarding life. So, I have kept it that way.”
“I shared my honest opinion with him”- MS Dhoni views on Virat Kohli
MS Dhoni feels that his bond with Virat Kohli has gradually transformed into a friendship over the years, largely due to open and honest communication. While Kohli started his career playing under Dhoni’s leadership, their roles reversed in the later stages of Dhoni’s career, including his final international appearance at the 2019 ODI World Cup.
“I shared my honest opinions with him, and that’s how our relationship developed. Initially, it was more of a captain and a young player dynamic. But with continuous interactions, we became friends.”
“I still believe there’s a subtle senior-junior distinction, but we share a great camaraderie. Now that neither of us is a captain, we get more time to catch up before the toss,” Dhoni remarked.
He further continued:
“Me and Virat, right from the start he was someone who wanted to contribute. He was someone who was never happy with 40 or 60. He wanted to score a hundred and remain not out in the end.”
”That hunger was there right from the start.He quickly improved his batting, and that will to perform and score was what kept him going. He raised his fitness levels. He has always been like that.”
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