Former Indian fast bowler Sreesanth shared some unique anecdotes from his international cricket days, during which he spent considerable time with MS Dhoni. Sreesanth was part of the Indian squads that secured victories in the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the Cricket World Cup in 2011, both under the captaincy of Dhoni.
In an exclusive conversation with Sportskeeda, Sreesanth recalled a fascinating incident that unfolded in Kochi back in 2005, just before an India vs. Pakistan match. He revealed: “Prior to the India vs. Pakistan clash in Kochi, our head coach, John Wright, summoned me to bowl in the nets. The atmosphere was electric as Kochi was hosting the match, and the stadium was packed with fervent fans chanting ‘India, India, Sachin, Sachin.'”
Sreesanth went on to narrate: “It was at this moment that Dhoni approached us, the supporting players. This is the first time I am sharing this story, and I’m doing so exclusively with Sportskeeda. As we stood there, Dhoni expressed his thoughts, saying, ‘I want to express myself. I’m not finding the opportunities where I can truly express myself.'”
Sreesanth mentioned that he was accompanied by another player from Kerala who was acquainted with Dhoni due to their Railways background. The two Kerala bowlers playfully told Dhoni that they would soon be playing for India alongside him. In response, Dhoni encouraged them to persevere with their hard work and remarked:
“Another player from Kerala was with me, and Dhoni engaged in a conversation with us. We even jokingly told him, ‘Dhoni bhai, we’ll be joining the Indian team in 1-2 years.’ He responded with a smile, ‘Yes, certainly. Why not? Just keep putting in the hard work.'”
