Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, two legendary cricketers who played crucial roles in India’s historic 2007 and 2011 World Cup wins, have retired from the cricket field. While many fans have wondered about their friendship, Yuvraj Singh recently shared some insights. In a candid podcast with YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia, he clarified that he and “Captain Cool” Dhoni were not as close as some might have thought, but their bond was always solid on the cricket field.
During the podcast Ranveer asked Yuvraj to clarify the rumours about his relationship with MS Dhoni. To which Yuvi replied, “Should I be politically correct or honest? Let me be politically correct because if you ask Mahi, he will be politically correct. Me and Mahi are not close friends. We were friends because of cricket; we played together. Mahi’s lifestyle was very different from mine, so we were never close friends; we were only friends because of cricket. When me and Mahi went on the ground, we gave more than 100 percent for our country together.”
Yuvraj also pointed out that when he entered the team, Dhoni was four years his junior, which led to occasional differences in decision-making as captain and vice-captain. “When I came in the team he was junior, four years junior. And when you are captain and vice-captain, there will be decision differences. I didn’t like, and sometimes I made decisions he didn’t like. Aur wo har team mein hota hai, koi bhi team le lo aap (It happens in every team. Look at any team),” Yuvi explained.
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Despite not being the closest of friends, Yuvraj Singh recalled moments of camaraderie between him and MS Dhoni. He shared an incident from a match against Bangladesh where he acted as a runner for Dhoni, who was in his 90s. Yuvraj’s aim was to give Dhoni the strike to help him reach a century. Another memorable incident was during a World Cup match against the Netherlands when he was batting at 48. Dhoni blocked two balls so that Yuvraj could reach his half-century, showcasing their mutual respect on the field.
To illustrate their professional relationship, Yuvraj mentioned the 2011 World Cup final, where they had a pre-decided plan. “In the World Cup final (2011), it was decided if Gauti (Gautam Gambhir gets out, I’ll go, if Virat gets out, Dhoni goes. That thing is more important than friendship. We were hardcore professionals. I wish him well, I’m sure he wishes me well,” he added.
Despite their professional rapport, Yuvraj Singh credited MS Dhoni for providing him with valuable career advice. When Yuvraj was nearing the end of his career, he turned to Dhoni for guidance. Dhoni candidly told him that the selection committee was not considering him for the 2019 World Cup. Yuvraj expressed his appreciation for Dhoni’s honesty in giving him a realistic perspective on his cricketing journey.
Yuvraj Singh-MS Dhoni Post Retirement Relation
Yuvi also shared that in retirement, they meet as friends, not as distant acquaintances. They even worked together on an advertisement, reminiscing about their shared experiences. “He is retired, I am retired. When we meet, we meet like friends only, not like ‘I don’t want to get to know you’. We shot an ad together too, and had fun talking about our past days,” Yuvraj Singh said.
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While Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni may not be the closest of friends off the field, their commitment and dedication to Indian cricket during their playing days were unwavering. Their professional relationship, based on mutual respect and teamwork, played a significant role in India’s cricketing success. Even in retirement, they share a camaraderie built on shared memories and experiences, proving that cricket, at its core, is about teamwork and camaraderie, irrespective of personal friendships.
