Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad recently shared his experiences with former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, revealing the awe he still feels in Dhoni’s presence. “…till now whenever he [Dhoni] is around I get goosebumps, but I have to get myself back and focus,” Gaikwad admitted.
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Gaikwad spoke about his cricketing idols. He mentioned that, like many aspiring cricketers in India, his childhood idol was Sachin Tendulkar. After Tendulkar’s retirement, Gaikwad began to admire MS Dhoni.
Describing his initial experience sharing a dressing room with Dhoni, Gaikwad said, “For the first time, I was very nervous. Obviously I had never met anyone with that kind of a stature. But he made me feel comfortable and made me feel like I’m a part of the team. After that till now whenever he is around I get goosebumps but I have to get myself back and focus.”
Gaikwad also expressed the surreal feeling of playing alongside Dhoni. “I never dreamt about it. With the kind of age difference we have, he is almost 16-18 years older than me. So every time I go out to bat for CSK in the IPL, my only aim is to play till M S Dhoni comes to bat,” he shared.
Addressing a question about dealing with periods of poor form, Gaikwad offered his perspective: “I think bad form is just in your mind. Everyday you go out to bat it’s a new start, you start from zero. So previously whatever you have done, it doesn’t matter. You just have to refresh your mind and have confidence. Do not believe in bad form, believe in yourself.” Gaikwad’s comments provide insight into the respect and admiration he holds for Dhoni, as well as his approach to overcoming challenges in cricket.
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