In a conversation with Aakash Chopra on his YouTube channel, Khaleel, who made his ODI debut in the 2018 Asia Cup, recounted a cherished moment when Dhoni, captaining the team in Rohit Sharma‘s absence, entrusted him with bowling the first over against Afghanistan.
“Mahi bhai is not my friend, not my elder brother, he is my guru,” Khaleel emphasized, revealing a deep respect that transcended typical teammate dynamics.
He went on to explain how this gesture fulfilled a childhood dream, inspired by watching his idol Zaheer Khan open the bowling for India.
“Since my childhood, I wanted to become the bowler who took the first over from India since I had watched Zaheer Khan growing up. In the Asia Cup, Mahi bhai, asked me to bowl the first over. I ran so hard, away from the huddle thinking that if I give it time he might change his mind,” Khaleel confessed, stressing the significance of the moment and the immense trust Dhoni placed in him.
Khaleel shared the story behind a viral photo of him receiving flowers from Dhoni. The incident took place during India’s tour of New Zealand, where Dhoni gifted him flowers he had received from fans.
“We were in New Zealand, Mahi bhai’s fans had given him flowers, he passed it onto me and some fans took a photo, it was quite memorable for me,” the pacer added.
Khaleel has played 11 ODIs and 18 T20Is so far for India, taking a combined 31 international wickets.
Dhoni, who last played in IPL 2024 for Chennai Super Kings, continues to be revered for his leadership qualities and his ability to nurture talent.
While his future in IPL remains uncertain, his legacy as a captain and mentor continues to inspire a generation of cricketers.
