Robin Uthappa opens up about friendship with MS Dhoni: It’s very troublesome for me to name him Mahi bhai at CSK

India and Chennai Super Kings batter Robin Uthappa mentioned it was troublesome for him to name his ‘good friend’ MS Dhoni ‘Mahi Bhai’ when he signed as much as play for Chennai Super Kings in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, including that he went as much as the previous CSK captain and spoke about his inhibition.

Robin Uthappa, chatting with R Ashwin, shared recollections of his early days with the senior nationwide staff and the way he grew to become good associates with MS Dhoni. Uthappa mentioned Dhoni didn’t count on the Karnataka batter to handle him ‘Mahi bhai’ which was how the kids within the staff addressed the World Cup-winning former captain.

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Uthappa, who made his India debut in 2006, mentioned he first met Dhoni at a Challenger Trophy in 2004 and the 2 gamers received to know one another properly when Uthappa started travelling with the Indian staff.

Uthappa and Dhoni performed 47 matches for India collectively between 2006 and 2012 earlier than they reunited at CSK in 2020.

MAHI BHAI?

“Today, for me, it’s very hard to call him Mahi bhai. Because when I got to know him he was Mahi, MS,” Uthappa mentioned on Ashwin’s YouTube present.

“I played with him after 12 years. After 2008, when I got dropped from the team, I am playing with him in the same team after like 12-13 years.

“I said ‘What should I call you, dude? I don’t know. Should I call you Mahi bhai because everyone around me is calling you Mahi bhai?’

“He was like ‘Hey, call me MS, or Mahi or however you want me to’. That’s how simple he is. It’s just an example of who he is as a human being.”

‘MS FUNNY AND WITTY’

Furthermore, Uthappa mentioned he discovered MS Dhoni particular and distinctive from the time when he was not even India captain. The Bengaluru cricketer mentioned Dhoni spoke very much less however he was humorous and witty.

“I first met MS Dhoni during my debut in Challenger Series in 2004. I was very close to Sridharan Sriram. I am genuinely very fond of him as a person. Sree Bhai was also there in the Challenger Trophy, he was also close to MS and that’s when I met MS through Sree Bhai but that meeting was very brief.

“MS is an extremely witty guy. extremely funny fellow, and off the cuff. If he likes you, he will keep teasing you. And if you take offence to that, he will stop. Like he doesn’t like offending anyone. But that’s how he shows affection.

“We connected on bikes. I was learning about bikes at that time. Those were common interests. Food was a common interest, and so were cars.

“I was telling somebody, there was something different about MS even before he became captain. He was very different in a positive light. All of them were special in a slightly shinier way. But he was special in a very simple way. Always under the radar, and quiet but had a great sense of humour. It would come out when it would come out.

“When he spoke, everyone listened. That was even before he became captain. When his opinion was asked, he would speak. He would speak only when he was spoken to and when he spoke, everyone listened.”

Notably, Uthappa performed a key position in India’s T20 World Cup marketing campaign in 2007 which they gained below MS Dhoni’s captaincy. Dhoni even trusted the batter with the accountability of bowling within the ‘Bowl Out’ in opposition to Pakistan in a tied contest throughout the World Cup.

Uthappa shone for CSK final yr, hitting match-winning knocks within the qualifier and the ultimate as Dhoni’s aspect went on to win the trophy for the 4th time of their historical past.