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Trust and respect - Virat Kohli explains his relationship with MS Dhoni

Aryasekhar Chakraborty

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has described his relationship with former skipper, MS Dhoni, as one of trust and respect. During a question and answer session on Instagram, Kohli was asked to describe his relationship with the legendary Indian skipper in two words. In reply, Kohli had a short and sweet message for his fans, “trust and respect”. 

Kohli has always been vocal about his cordial relationship with Dhoni despite several reports claiming about their indifference which led to Dhoni’s Test retirement midway through the tour of Australia in 2014. 

However, both have always maintained a healthy bonding with each other and has been hardly bothered by what has been spoken about them in the media. 

In a live session with Ravichandran Ashwin last year, Kohli has spoken about his elevation as the skipper of the Indian team and how Dhoni played a pivotal role in elevating him as the skipper of the national team. Kohli had said that how he was always in the ears of the former skipper suggesting different tactics. 

"I have always been inclined towards taking responsibility. After my debut for India, it was just about wanting to play, it was about being in the Indian XI all the time. Then with your intrigue in the game you start talking to the captain regularly. I was always in MS’s ears, discussing different tactics, “ Kohli had said.

Back in 2017, Kohli had presented a platinum bat to Dhoni on the occasion of his 300th ODI. He had called Dhoni his captain for a lifetime having started his career under Dhoni’s tenure. “You will always remain our captain,” Kohli had said. 

Following Dhoni’s retirement from all forms of cricket in August 2020, Kohli had shared a video where he spoke about the great camaraderie which they shared and wished him all the best for his future endeavours. 

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