Ravindra Jadeja, the renowned Indian all-rounder, recently reminisced about his initial meeting with MS Dhoni in 2005. Although Jadeja made his debut under Dhoni’s leadership in 2009, he quickly became an integral part of the team. Known for his versatility across all formats, Jadeja earned the reputation of being Dhoni’s ‘secret weapon,’ often stepping up to deliver vital breakthroughs and match-winning performances with the bat in the lower order.
Jadeja recalled his initial meeting with Dhoni during the 2005 Challenger Trophy in Chennai, revealing that he was too nervous to approach the captain at the time. He also shared that he still feels somewhat hesitant to speak to Dhoni, especially when the latter isn’t in the right frame of mind.
“I first encountered MS Dhoni during the 2005 Challenger Trophy in Chennai. I was flying in from Mumbai, and I believe he was on the same flight. I was sitting in economy class, while he was up in business class. Everyone was pointing out that Dhoni was sitting up front, but I was too shy to approach him. Even now, I still feel hesitant to talk to him if he’s not in the right mood. He doesn’t say anything, but you can easily tell from his face that he’s not in the mood,” Jadeja shared in the latest episode of Kutti Stories with Ash on R. Ashwin’s YouTube channel.
“Back then, I was just a kid, and he was MS Dhoni, so when I saw him on the flight with his long hair, I was in awe. Our manager told us we had to travel from the airport to the hotel with Dhoni. I was nervous and thought, ‘How can I possibly ride with him?’ Luckily, his phone fell to the floor, and he had to wait for a moment. I saw this as my opportunity to escape. At that time, I kept wondering, ‘What would I even say to him? After all, he’s MS Dhoni.'”
Throughout his career, Jadeja has played a pivotal role in Chennai Super Kings (CSK), contributing to the team’s IPL victories in 2018, 2021, and 2023 under Dhoni’s captaincy. One of his memorable moments came in the 2023 final, where he hit ten runs off the last two balls against Mohit Sharma, securing the team’s fifth IPL title. Despite being a crucial figure in the Indian cricket team, Jadeja’s 2025 season didn’t leave a significant mark, as he managed to score 301 runs and take 10 wickets across 18 matches.