In an interview with The Ranveer Show, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh confessed that he and MS Dhoni aren’t the greatest of friends.
Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni, two of the finest middle-order hitters India has ever seen, have done wonders for the national team over the years, winning some of the biggest trophies. Both cricketers are now retired and living their lives apart from the game. However, some beliefs about their personal relationship and their equation with each other persist. Yuvraj had the opportunity to be ‘politically correct’ regarding his off-field relationship with MS Dhoni, and he didn’t hesitate to say that the two aren’t close friends.
Yuvraj revealed to TRS Clips that he and Dhoni were buddies since they both played cricket for India. Aside from that, they didn’t really connect because their personal lifestyles were so dissimilar.
“Me and Mahi aren’t really close. We became buddies because we played cricket together. Because Mahi’s lifestyle was so dissimilar to mine, we were never close friends; we were just friends because of cricket. When Mahi and I were on the ground, we gave our everything to our country. He was captain, and I was vice-captain. I was four years my junior when I joined the team. There will be disagreements when you are captain and vice-captain.
“Sometimes he made decisions I didn’t like, and sometimes I made decisions he didn’t like.” That happens in every team. When I was nearing the conclusion of my career and wasn’t seeing the big picture, I turned to him for help. He was the one who advised me that the selection committee was not looking for me right now. At least I got to see the whole picture, I thought. This is just before the 2019 World Cup. That is the reality,” he stated.
Yuvraj went on to say that teammates in sports don’t have to be best friends; they simply have to give their all when they get onto the pitch.
“You don’t have to be great friends with your teammates off the pitch. Everybody has a unique way of living and skill set. You don’t have to be best friends with everyone to play on the pitch. Any team’s eleven members don’t get along. Some do, some do not. Put your ego aside when you’re on the park and contribute on the pitch.
“I was a runner for MS when he was injured.” I recall wanting to give him the strike when he was in his 90s to help him get to 100. I recall diving for him during his second run, when he was in his 90s.
“I was 48 when I batted in a World Cup match against the Netherlands.” “There were two runs to get, and Mahi blocked both of them, so I got 50,” he revealed.
“It was decided in the World Cup final (2011) that if Gauti (Gautam Gambhir) gets out, I’ll go, and if Virat gets out, Dhoni goes.” That is more significant than friendship. We were dedicated professionals. I wish him well, and I know he does as well.
“He’s retired, and I’m retired.” When we meet, we meet as friends, not as ‘I don’t want to get to know you’. “We also shot an ad together and had a good time talking about our past,” the former India batter remarked.
