Indian Cricketers Who Have Strained Relationships with MS Dhoni: A Look at the Feuds
Indian Cricketers Who Have Strained Relationships with MS Dhoni: A Look at the Feuds
Recognized for his composed nature and effective leadership, Dhoni has typically maintained friendly relationships with his teammates. However, it has come to light that a handful of Indian cricketers may not be communicating with him, possibly due to professional disagreements.
Following Harbhajan Singh’s disclosure that he is no longer in contact with Dhoni, let’s explore other Indian cricketers who have experienced conflicts with MSD and have ceased communication with him.
The public feud between former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and ex-India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has come to light. Harbhajan and Dhoni were once teammates during India’s victorious campaigns in the T20 World Cup and ODI World Cup in 2007 and 2011. It has been over ten years since the two former Indian players last communicated, as revealed by Harbhajan. It was also disclosed that Dhoni does not answer his calls, suggesting a breakdown in communication between them.
Next is Gautham Gambhir. The dynamic left-handed opener, who played pivotal roles in India’s World Cup triumphs in 2007 and 2011, has openly criticized Dhoni on multiple occasions, especially regarding decisions made during the final phases of his captaincy.
Additionally, Gambhir has expressed frustration over the widespread belief that Dhoni is solely credited for hitting the legendary six that clinched India’s 2011 World Cup victory. This perception has reportedly annoyed Gambhir, who staunchly argues that the win was a result of a unified team effort rather than the achievement of a single player.
Gambhir has expressed his dissatisfaction with the contentious rotational policy implemented by Dhoni during the 2012 CB Series in Australia. This policy sought to rotate experienced players such as Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, and Sachin Tendulkar to create opportunities for emerging talents like Rohit Sharma, as part of a strategy aimed at the 2015 World Cup in Australia.
Further, Yuvraj Singh, regarded as one of India’s finest all-rounders, is thought to have had some disagreements with Dhoni. Yuvraj felt he lacked sufficient support upon his return to international cricket after battling cancer.
In a podcast with Ranveer Allahbadia released last year, Yuvraj shared that his bond with Dhoni was mainly rooted in cricket, as their contrasting lifestyles likely would not have led to a friendship otherwise.
A key element that added to the tension in their relationship was Yuvraj’s father, Yograj Singh, who regularly made negative comments about Dhoni in public, frequently questioning the legendary captain’s choices and leadership style.
