Khaleel Ahmed Shares Insights on His Unique Bond with MS Dhoni

Young Indian pacer Khaleel Ahmed recounted a special moment with iconic former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, reflecting on their bond and a memorable experience they shared in New Zealand. Ahmed described how Dhoni’s guidance and presence left a lasting impact during their time together. This anecdote highlights the close relationship between the emerging talent and the legendary figure, showcasing the influence Dhoni has had on the next generation of cricketers.

Khaleel Ahmed Talked About His Bond With MS Dhoni:

Khaleel Ahmed, who began his ODI career at the 2018 Asia Cup, had a memorable outing under Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s leadership in a match against Afghanistan, with Rohit Sharma absent due to injury. Opening the bowling for India was a dream come true for Khaleel. He affectionately referred to Dhoni as his ‘guru’ and reminisced about this significant moment from the tournament.

Khaleel said, “ Mahi bhai is not my friend, not my elder brother, he is my guru. Since my childhood I wanted to become the bowler who took the first over from India since I had watched Zaheer Khan growing up. In the Asia Cup, Mahi bhai, asked me to bowl the first over. I ran so hard, away from the huddle thinking that if I give it time he might change his mind.”

Khaleel Ahmed recounted the story behind his famous photo with Dhoni, where the legendary wicketkeeper presented him with flowers. He revealed that the gesture took place in New Zealand, where Dhoni handed him flowers given by fans. This touching moment highlighted the bond between the two and captured the essence of their camaraderie.

He further said, “ We were in New Zealand, Mahi bhai’s fans had given him flowers, he passed it onto me and some fans took a photo, it was quite memorable for me.”

Dhoni’s latest cricket appearance was in IPL 2024, where he took on the role of a specialist wicketkeeper-batter under Ruturaj Gaikwad. Although the Chennai Super Kings, with their five titles, did not make it to the playoffs, Dhoni continued to thrill the crowds at every venue. Batting lower down the order, he accumulated 161 runs across 11 innings with an impressive average of 53.66 and a strike rate of 220.54. His season highlights included a top score of 37*, along with 14 fours and 13 sixes.

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