In a special interview with Ananda Vikatan Magazine, former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni opened up about various aspects of his career, mentors, ambitions, and personal life. Here are the highlights from the insightful conversation:
Many cricketers like Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly have attained fame after a long struggle. But in your case, fame came quickly.
"I'm surprised by that, too. Despite scoring two hundreds, I haven't achieved much. I am not a good wicketkeeper like Farook Engineer or Kirmani. However, my 148 against Pakistan and 183 runs against Sri Lanka have left an impression on the fans."
You have a muscular body that other Indian players don't have. How many hours do you exercise every day?
"Exercise? It's a long way from me," laughs Dhoni. "The reason for my health is my upbringing in Jharkhand's mountainous terrain and my love for football during childhood."
Who is your mentor in cricket?
"Sachin Tendulkar was the reason for my interest in cricket. But after coming to the Indian team, it was Sehwag who taught me the techniques of batting. Sachin is my mentor; Sehwag is my guru."
What is your next ambition in cricket?
"I want to score a double hundred in a one-day match!"
Is there a story behind your beautiful hair?
"There's no story. I just started growing hair last year. Well, I started to maintain that this is just a zodiac for us."
They say you drink 4 liters of milk a day?
"I don't know who spread this rumour. But 4 litres is excessive! I switched from milk to milkshakes."
Aren't there so many marriage proposals from women to marry you?
"Look at this! this too is a rumour. Only three big families have approached my parents asking for a groom."
Let's talk about tennis. Sania Mirza continues to be embroiled in controversies?
Poor thing, let her be. Avoiding continuous controversies will help her achieve in tennis.
- P. M. Sudhir
Photos: S. Kumaresan