Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has shared an interesting conversation between himself and MS Dhoni ahead of the 2025 IPL season.
He also recalled recently asking MS Dhoni about how he continues to go strong at age 43 as well. Dhoni said playing cricket is the only thing he enjoys as well.
Speaking about Dhoni on ESPNcricinfo, Harbhajan said: “Last year he was brilliant. I met him recently at one of our friend’s wedding function. He looked very fit and solid. I asked him, ‘Isn’t it difficult, what you’re doing?’ He said, ‘It is hard, but this is the only thing I like doing. I enjoy it. When it’s 4 or 5, I want to go and play. And I want to do it.’ It’s hard without playing any cricket. But he’s showing how it’s done.”
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“You know, he must be doing something better than the others. You know, still surviving – not surviving, actually – still dominating. Last season, actually, he dominated all the bowlers, international bowlers, and domestic top-class bowlers. So this practice that he does for 2-3 months, he must be facing so many balls,” he stated.
Harbhajan Singh also pointed to MS Dhoni’s incredible commitment to practice as the key reason behind his success even at the age of 43 as well. Despite Dhoni’s stunning finishes, CSK missed out on playoff qualification for only the third time in the 2024 IPL season as well.
“He’s (Dhoni) the first one to arrive. The more balls you play, the more you get that timing, and the more you get that flow. He keeps on batting. 2-2, 3-3 hours he bats in Chennai. And that’s what matters, you know. He’s the first one to come to the ground, the last one to go. At this age, that’s what the difference is,” Harbhajan Singh said in the same interview.
He also praised MS Dhoni’s wicketkeeping skills.
“I have no idea how he does it. Captaincy and batting is a different matter. I have never seen anyone with quicker hands than Dhoni. Once the ball goes behind the wicket, 9.5 out of 10 times he’ll get you out, don’t know how he does that. I don’t know what it is – Bijli ki tarah haath hai [he has lightning-quick hands],” he concluded.
