India’s spin bowling all-rounder Akshar Patel recently shared a hilarious anecdote from the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, involving him and former skipper MS Dhoni.
While Akshar made his Test debut against England earlier this year, he had received his maiden call-up to the red-ball side back in 2014. He had flown to Australia as a replacement for Ravindra Jadeja, who got ruled out of the last two Tests due to injury.
Interestingly, Dhoni called time on his Test career on the same tour. He announced the shocking decision following the conclusion of the third Test in Melbourne.
Recalling his first tour of Down Under, Akshar revealed how Dhoni teased him after announcing retirement from the longest format.
“It was the Boxing-Day Test and I arrived the very day as Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) got injured midway. I remember this because Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) had announced his retirement the next day,” he said in a video shared on Delhi Capitals’ Twitter page.
“He (Dhoni) said to me: “Bapu, aate hi mera thank you kar diya.” I was like: “Mahi bhai, I came just now”,” Patel added, implying that Dhoni jokingly held him responsible for his retirement.
Notably, Akshar Patel didn’t get a chance on that tour and he had to wait more than six years to finally make his Test debut.
Akshar is currently plying his trade in the second phase of IPL 2021 for the Delhi Capitals. He is also part of India’s 15-member squad for the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup, slated to be held in UAE and Oman from October 17 to November 14.
