'That Was Not Normal': Gautam Gambhir Reveals His First Impression Of MS Dhoni

Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir has revealed how he felt when he saw MS Dhoni for the first time. The former India opener had made his debut in international cricket in April 2003 while the former India wicketkeeper-batsman played his first game for the national team in December 2004. Both the legendary cricketers went on to become an integral part of Team India across the formats.

MS Dhoni powered India to historic triumph in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 World Cup while Gautam Gambhir was the highest run-scorer in the final of both the competitions. Coming to Gautam Gambhir’s latest revelation, the batting legend revealed how he and MS Dhoni had been on different tours together as part of India A’s assignments, where the two bonded and got to know about each other and their game.

Gautam Gambhir recalled the tour of Kenya for the India A side which eventually paved the way for MS Dhoni’s first call-up from the national team. The legendary wicketkeeper made a mark smashing two centuries and a fifty to be named Player of the Series and help India A win a triangular series in Kenya, featuring the host team and Pakistan A.

Soon, he was rewarded by the selectors with a call for the senior Indian team and went on to become one of the greatest Indian cricketers. Recalling the tour, Gautam Gambhir said Dhoni’s power hitting had taken everyone by surprise. In fact, he said that Dhoni’s shots were not normal for any Indian wicketkeeper as he hailed his former teammate as phenomenal.

“We went on an India A tour to Kenya and Zimbabwe. We played a triangular series against Pakistan A and Kenya. The way he was hitting the ball we all knew he was someone who could keep wicket and hit the ball that long and that far,” Gambhir said on the Cricket Connected Show on Star Sports.

“That was not normal for any Indian wicketkeeper to do because before that we had brilliant keepers, but never those hard-hitting players who could hit those 100-meter sixes. He was phenomenal and that’s the reason he’s achieved what he has,” Gautam Gambhir added.

Dhoni retired from the game earlier this year as one of the greatest-ever players in the history of Indian cricket as well as one of the most decorated wicketkeeper-batsmen in the game. He also made his mark as a captain and is still the first and only captain to have won all the three ICC trophies.

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