Mahi, The Motivator

Even in times of crisis, when many would press the panic button, Mahendra Singh Dhoni would quietly look at the situation, think for a minute and then effectively COME UP WITH AN IDEA that many wouldn’t even think of.

- Shayan Acharya

As the Jharkhand cricketers boarded the KriyaYoga Express, bound for kolkata, at Ranchi on a wintry February evening, they were in for a surprise. In one corner of a two-tier bay stood a gentleman, who they don’t see very often. That too in a train!

With the youngsters yet to come to terms with the fact that they were actually travelling with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the ‘Captain Cool’ walked up to them and joked, “It will be a good journey, we will have a long chat…”

FOR THE NEXT EIGHT HOURS, Dhoni ensured that his teammates did not have a dull moment. The former India captain, who was leading Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, spoke to each and every player about cricket, and how they could improve their game.

“That’s how Mahi bhai is. He actually travelled with us by train so that there could be a better team bonding. It is always special to share the dressing room with him,” Ishan Kishan, a regular member of the Jharkhand team, says.

Ishan, who led India in the Under-19World Cup last year, admits that in the last few months, he has been able to improve his game because of Dhoni. “He is always there to help out.With legends like him around, you learn so many things easily,” he says.

ACCORDING TO ISHAN, one session with Dhoni actually helped him regain his concentration. “He had told me to just remain focused, and the rest will come easily. With Mahi bhai around, there is no scope for negative thinking,” he says.