Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni have been the two of the greatest cricketers to have played for the Indian cricket team. Both the cricketers have together stitched many great victories for India. The best manifestation of the duo is the 2011 World Cup final, where the duo played a partnership of 109-runs.
However, not many are aware of the fact that behind that partnership was their years-long friendship, which began during their tours with the India A team.
Recently, on the Cricket Connected Show on Star Sports, Gautam Gambhir talked about the first of those tours, when he saw MS Dhoni bat and keep for the first time. It happened during India’s triangular series in Keya when India A locked its horns with Pakistan A and MS Dhoni smashed two centuries and a fifty. Dhoni’s brilliant knock helped him win the Player of the Series award.
Gambhir recalled how he was left in awe of Dhoni’s impeccable keeping and batting skills. He revealed:
“We went on an India A tour to Kenya and Zimbabwe. We played a triangular series against Pakistan A and Kenya. The way he (MS Dhoni) was hitting the ball, we all knew he was someone who could keep wickets and hit the ball that long and that far.”
He also added that even though team India had some good wicketkeepers back then. He added:
“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.”
Meanwhile, MS Dhoni remains the most successful skippers for team India, having won all the three major trophies – ICC ODI World Cup (2011), T20 World Cup (2007), and the Champions Trophy (2013).
