"Not feeding Dhoni biryani properly, cost me comeback into India team," Mohammad Kaif recalls the incident

Kaif had invited Indian cricketers at his house for a feast back in 2006.

MS Dhoni and Mohammad Kaif | GETTY

Former India captain MS Dhoni a foodie and as his Twitter bio says "perennially hungry for chicken butter masala", he loves Butter chicken and Biryani. Ex-India cricketer Mohammad Kaif, who has played with Dhoni, recalled the time when not feeding biryani properly to Dhoni cost him a place in the team. 

Kaif had smashed a hundred for his state team Uttar Pradesh in Ranji Trophy final. His performance helped UP win the trophy under his leadership. He expected a call to the Indian team, but it didn't happen.

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The 39-year-old jokingly said Biryani was the reason which cost him an opportunity. There was a feast at his home in Noida when he paid more attention to the seniors like Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar, the juniors like Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan were sidelined in another room.

"Is it true that MS Dhoni had once visited your home and you didn't feed him Biryani properly," Kaif was asked in a YouTube interview on Sportscreen. 

Replying to the question, he said, "I realized it later that in 2006 when I scored a century in Ranji Trophy final and led Uttar Pradesh to Ranji triumph. I thought I could have made a comeback in the Indian team then if MS Dhoni wanted.

“Juniors like MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, and others were sitting in one room and seniors like Sachin, Ganguly was sitting in another room, I spent most of my time sitting with seniors as I was nervous attending to big personalities like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and others. I probably didn't look after Dhoni and other junior cricketers properly.

"Dhoni has often told me, I came to your home and you did not ask me for food properly in a joking way. I always say brother please forgive me now," he added.

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 26 May, 2020

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