Team India speedster Khaleel Ahmed has called MS Dhoni his guru. Speaking on Aakash Chopra’s YouTube channel, Khaleel Ahmed shared that he is quite close to the former India captain and considers him a teacher in international cricket as well. The fast bowler also revealed many stories about him and said that he had several memorable moments with him as well.
Asked about a viral photo of MS Dhoni giving flowers to the pacer, Khaleel Ahmed recalled that it happened in the tour of New Zealand when Dhoni passed on flowers from his fans to him as well. Khaleel said that the unexpected moment became a cherished one as the fans took a photo.
“We were in New Zealand, Mahi bhai’s fans had given him flowers, he passed it onto me and some fans took a photo, it was quite memorable for me,” Khaleel said.
He also revealed that his dream from a very young age was to bowl the first over in a game for India as he had grown up watching Zaheer Khan do that as well. And, Khaleel shared that MS Dhoni helped him achieve this dream. However, he had a good season with the ball in the previous season of the Indian Premier League as well.
“Mahi bhai is not my friend, not my elder brother, he is my guru. Since my childhood I wanted to become the bowler who took the first over from India since I had watched Zaheer Khan growing up. In the Asia Cup, Mahi bhai, asked me to bowl the first over. I ran so hard, away from the huddle thinking that if I give it time he might change his mind,” Khaleel Ahmed concluded.
