“I Still Hesitate Around MS Dhoni”: Ravindra Jadeja Opens Up on Reading His Former Captain’s Mood

In a conversation with CSK teammate Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja shared the story of his first glimpse of MS Dhoni on a flight back in 2005.

Ravindra Jadeja Remembers His First Meeting With MS Dhoni

Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja opened up about the first time he saw Mahendra Singh Dhoni and how nervous he felt about approaching the cricketing icon. Speaking to CSK teammate R Ashwin on the YouTube show Kutti Stories with Ash, Jadeja revealed the moment took place during the 2005 Challenger Trophy when both were on the same flight from Mumbai to Chennai.

“I was sitting in economy and Dhoni bhai was in business class. Everyone said he was sitting in front, but I didn’t have the courage to go say hello,” Ravindra Jadeja recalled. “Even now, sometimes I hesitate to approach him when he’s not in the mood.”

Jadeja also spoke about Dhoni’s temperament, revealing that while the former India captain rarely expresses anger verbally, his face gives it away. “He doesn’t say anything, but it’s clearly visible when he’s upset.”

The pair’s bond has grown over the years, especially during their time with Chennai Super Kings. One of the most iconic moments in IPL history was when Dhoni lifted Jadeja after he hit the winning runs in the IPL 2023 final—a celebration of friendship and trust built over nearly two decades.

‘I was hesitant  and thought, how can I go with him?’

Continuing his story on Kutti Stories with Ash, Ravindra Jadeja revealed just how nervous he was to interact with Mahendra Singh Dhoni during their first meeting. So much so, he admitted to intentionally avoiding the encounter altogether.

“At that time, I was just a kid and he was already MS Dhoni—with long hair and all. Our manager told us to go with Dhoni from the airport to the team hotel. I was so hesitant and kept thinking, ‘How can I just walk up and go with him?’”

Jadeja recalled a moment on the flight that gave him a way out. “Luckily, his phone dropped on the floor and he had to wait a bit. I thought this was my chance to leave. Back then, I used to wonder—what would I even say to him? He was MS Dhoni.”

Despite that nervous beginning, Jadeja and Dhoni went on to form one of the strongest bonds in Indian cricket, particularly during their long and successful stint with Chennai Super Kings.

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