"‘He's not my friend or elder brother…’: Khaleel Ahmed on his relationship with MS Dhoni"

NEW DELHI: Indian pacer Khaleel Ahmed expressed his deep admiration for legendary cricketer MS Dhoni, referring to him as his 'guru' and sharing stories that illustrate the unique bond they share.

"‘He's not my friend or elder brother…’: Khaleel Ahmed on his relationship with MS Dhoni"

In a conversation with Aakash Chopra on his YouTube channel, Khaleel, who made his ODI debut during the 2018 Asia Cup, fondly recalled a moment when Dhoni, who was captaining the team in Rohit Sharma's absence, entrusted him with bowling the first over against Afghanistan.

"Not my friend, not my elder brother...": Khaleel Ahmed on his relationship with MS Dhoni  

"Mahi bhai is not my friend, not my elder brother; he is my guru," Khaleel emphasized, expressing a profound respect that goes beyond the usual teammate relationship.

He went on to describe how this gesture fulfilled a childhood dream of his, inspired by watching his idol Zaheer Khan open the bowling for India.  

"Since childhood, I always wanted to be the bowler who took the first over for India, just like Zaheer Khan. During the Asia Cup, Mahi bhai asked me to bowl the first over. I ran quickly from the huddle, fearing he might change his mind," Khaleel revealed, underscoring the importance of the moment and the trust Dhoni placed in him.

Khaleel also recounted the story behind a viral photo of him receiving flowers from Dhoni. The moment occurred during India's tour of New Zealand when Dhoni handed him flowers that fans had given to him.

"We were in New Zealand, and Mahi bhai’s fans had given him flowers. He passed them on to me, and some fans captured the moment. It was a memorable experience for me," the pacer added.

Khaleel has played 11 ODIs and 18 T20Is for India, taking a total of 31 international wickets.

Dhoni, who last played in the IPL 2024 for Chennai Super Kings, continues to be celebrated for his leadership and his ability to mentor young talent. While his future in the IPL remains uncertain, his legacy as a captain and mentor continues to inspire a new generation of cricketers.