Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh talked about his equation with ex-India teammate MS Dhoni and said that they are not close friends. Both the players were part of India’s two biggest ICC event wins in the past 15 years- the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup.
Yuvraj Singh had a storied career from 2000-2017 playing 40 Tests, 304 ODIs, and 58 T20Is for India. He was the Player of the Tournament in the 2011 World Cup and was the first player to hit six sixes in an over in T20I cricket.
Meanwhile, he and MS Dhoni remained the two constants throughout the Indian team. But, there remain certain beliefs about their relationship, and their equation with each other.
Yuvraj admitted that he and Dhoni were friends because they played cricket for India together. Beyond that, they didn't quite connect as their lifestyles were quite contrasting.
"Me and Mahi are not close friends. We were friends because of cricket, we played together. Mahi's lifestyle was very different from me, so we were never close friends, we were only friends because of cricket. When me and Mahi went on the ground, we gave more than 100% to our country. In that, he was captain, I was vice-captain. When he came into the team, he was 4 years junior. When you are captain and vice-captain, there will be decision differences.
Sometimes he made decisions I didn't like, sometimes I made decisions he didn't like. That happens in every team. When I was at the end of my career, when I wasn't getting the right picture about my career, I asked him for advice. He was the guy who told me that the selection committee is not looking at you right now. I was like, at least I got to know the real picture. This is just before the 2019 World Cup. That is the reality," Yuvraj said on The Ranveer Show podcast.
Yuvraj Singh also emphasized that players in a team don’t have to be the best of friends, but performing on the field for the team is the biggest necessity.
"Your teammates don't have to be your best friends outside the field. Everybody has a different lifestyle, and skill set. Certain people hang out with certain people, you don't have to be best friends with everyone to go on the field. If you take any team, all eleven don't get along. Some do, some don't. When you are in the park, put your ego behind you and contribute to the field.
There were times when MS was injured, I was a runner for him. I remember there was one moment when he was in his 90s, I wanted to give him the strike to help him reach his 100. I remember diving for him, for his second run, as he was in 90s. When I was batting in a World Cup match, I was 48 against the Netherlands. There were 2 runs to get and Mahi blocked both the balls so that I get 50," he explained.
Giving another example of what a professional relationship he and Dhoni had, Yuvraj gave an example from the 2011 World Cup final.
"In the World Cup final (2011), it was decided if Gauti (Gautam Gambhir) gets out, I'll go, if Virat gets out, Dhoni goes. That thing is more important than friendship. We were hardcore professionals. I wish him well, I know he wishes me well.
He is retired, and I am retired. When we meet, we meet like friends only not like 'I don't want to get to know you'. We shot an ad together too, and had fun talking about our past days," the former India batter said.
Here is the video:
