Former Indian opener, Gautam Gambhir has recalled what he felt when witnessed the batting of MS Dhoni for the first time. Gambhir shared the experience when he and the former skipper had been on different tours together as part of India A’s assignments, where the two got to know about each other and their game. It was early 2004 when Dhoni had amassed two centuries and a fifty to earn himself a Player of the Series and help India A win a triangular series in Kenya, featuring the host team and Pakistan A.

During a show on Star Sports, Gambhir said, “We went on an India A tour to Kenya and Zimbabwe. We played a triangular series against Pakistan A and Kenya. The way he was hitting the ball we all knew he was someone who could keep wicket and hit the ball that long and that far.”

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Dhoni made his international debut against Bangladesh in an ODI in 2004, and there had been no turning back for him ever since as he kept on making noises with the bat. He established himself as India’s most successful captain winning all three ICC trophies – the 50-over World Cup (in 2011), the T20 World Cup (in 2007), and the Champions Trophy in 2013. Apart from that he also led the Indian team to the numero uno position in the ICC Test rankings for the first time in history.

Gautam Gambhir was the top-scorer in both World Cup finals (2007 and 2011) and also played some crucial knock when India was on the rise to the pinnacle of the Test rankings. One of the most memorable partnerships they were involved in came during the final of the 2011 World Cup, where Dhoni and Gambhir made a partnership of 109 runs for the fourth wicket. Gambhir recalled being awestruck watching Dhoni’s ability to hit towering sixes and how it was the beginning of a great success story.

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Gambhir explained, “That was not normal for any Indian wicketkeeper to do because before that we had brilliant keepers, but never those hard-hitting players who could hit those 100-meter sixes. He was phenomenal and that’s the reason he’s achieved what he has.”