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In September 2022, Virat Kohli had revealed how MS Dhoni was the only one among those he has played cricket with who reached out to him during his low phase.
Virat Kohli (right) shares a warm relationship with his former India captain MS Dhoni. (AP Photo)
The final few months in 2021 turned out to be quite an eventful affair for Indian cricket with Virat Kohli at the center of it. Kohli, one of the finest modern-day cricketers, quit IPL and India T20I in September 2021 and was unceremoniously replaced as India ODI captain later in December – a development he didn’t anticipate. Then in January 2022, he made another stunning announcement by giving up the Test captaincy as well.
It was quite a challenging phase of Kohli’s career as he runs weren’t flowing off his bat as easily as they used to at one stage. Later, he revealed how he wasn’t getting any pleasure out of playing the game before rediscovering it.
In September 2022, Kohli revealed how MS Dhoni was the only one to reach out to him after he quite Test captaincy among those, he has played previously.
“Let me tell you one thing: when I left Test captaincy, I got a message from only one person, with whom I had played previously; that was MS Dhoni. Many people have my number. On TV, people give lots of suggestions, people have a lot to say. But none of the people who had my number sent me a message,” Kohli had said.
During an event recently, Dhoni was asked about the text he sent Kohli during the latter’s low phase.
“It’s deja vu,” Dhoni responded. “I was asked a similar question in a JioHotsar show; you will see the answer during the IPL. I’m not great when it comes to being in touch with people but yeah, certain times when someone needs you, you just drop in a message.”
Dhoni has a reputation of not being easily reachable via phone.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri once recalled how the legendary captain avoids carrying his phone.
“If he can avoid having the phone in his hand, he will do it. Honestly, till today I don’t have his number. I never asked for it. I know he hardly has his phone. And if you have to get in touch with him, you know how to,” Shastri had told Shoaib Akhtar.
