The legendary India cricketer and former skipper MS Dhoni was widely regarded for the support and guidance he used to extend to the fellow players, be it a batter or a bowler.
Among umpteen such players, India's leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal recalls an incidence when Dhoni's words lifted his confidence when he was being slogged by the opponent's batters left, right and centre.
In a T20I match against South Africa, Chahal had conceded 64 runs and Dhoni had told him to accept that it was not his day and relax.
"Once, in a match where I got hit for 64 runs in a T20I in South Africa, and (Heinrich) Klassen had hit me all around the park, Mahi bhai had told me to come around the wicket. I did that and he hit me for a six over the biggest boundary at mid-wicket. Then Mahi bhai came to me and I said, 'Yes Mahi bhai, ab kya karna hai? (What should I do now?)'. He said 'Kuch nahi, mai to waisehi aagaya tere paas. (Nothing, I just came to check upon you)," Chahal said during a conversation with R Ashwin on his YouTube channel.
"I know it's not your day, you are trying but it isn't happening. Zyada sochna nahi, apne chaar ka quota khatam kar aur chill kar (Don't think too much, just finish your four overs and chill)," he added.
Chahal said the support from Dhoni came at the right time, otherwise, it could have affected his confidence. "If at that time someone scolds you then your confidence level falls even lower. But he told me that it's just one match. He said, 'You did so well in ODIs, you won't do well in every match, others are also playing.'
"I also realized that in cricket sometimes you do well sometimes not and sometimes it's just not your day. I also learned that when it's not your day, you shouldn't try too much and instead be economical and give others a chance to take wickets by building pressure," he said.
The duo of Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav was popular before World Cup 2019. Their performance dipped after the tournament and they have found it hard to keep the same domination. It is also said that the absence of Dhoni behind the stumps has played a role in their downfall. Both would be looking to make their case in the upcoming West Indies series and once again stamp their authority as the ace Indian spinners.
India and West Indies will play three ODIs in Ahmedabad starting from February 6, followed by three T20Is in Kolkata slated to begin from February 16.
