Yuvraj Singh, the former Indian all-rounder who played an instrumental role in India’s World Cup victories under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, recently opened up about his relationship with the former skipper. Contrary to the belief that they were close friends, Yuvraj clarified that their friendship was primarily based on their shared love for cricket.
Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni were iconic middle-order batsmen for India, contributing significantly to numerous victories during the 2000s and 2010s. During Dhoni’s tenure as captain, Yuvraj served as his deputy in white-ball cricket and played pivotal roles in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup triumphs. However, in a surprising revelation during a recent interview, Yuvraj explained that their friendship didn’t extend beyond the cricket field, primarily due to their differing lifestyles.
Yuvraj explained, “Me and Mahi are not close friends. We were friends because of cricket; we played together. Mahi’s lifestyle was very different from mine, so we were never close friends; we were only friends because of cricket.”
While on the field, Yuvraj and Dhoni gave their all for the country, with Yuvraj serving as vice-captain when Dhoni was at the helm. They shared a dynamic on-field partnership, but Yuvraj admitted that, as expected, there were occasional differences in their decisions as captain and vice-captain.
Yuvraj highlighted, “Sometimes he made decisions I didn’t like, and sometimes I made decisions he didn’t like. Aur vo har team mein hota hai, koi bhi team le lo aap.”
During the twilight of his career, Yuvraj sought Dhoni’s advice about his international cricket future. Dhoni informed him that the selection committee wasn’t considering him, providing Yuvraj with clarity just before the 2019 World Cup.
Yuvraj emphasized that off-field friendships among teammates are not mandatory. “Your teammates don’t have to be your best friends outside the field. Everybody has a different lifestyle and skill set.”
The camaraderie they shared on the field was more important than their friendship outside of cricket. Yuvraj reminisced about instances when they supported each other during critical moments in their careers. For example, he ran as a substitute fielder for Dhoni and even gave him the strike in crucial situations.
Yuvraj pointed out, “That thing is more important than friendship. We were hard-core professionals.”
Despite not being close friends, Yuvraj and Dhoni share mutual respect and goodwill. They meet as friends and have even worked together on advertising projects, reminiscing about their past achievements.
In conclusion, Yuvraj Singh’s revelation clarifies that the strength of a cricketing partnership doesn’t necessarily depend on being best friends outside the field, as the professional bond they shared was what truly mattered.
