“I have been blessed with a baby daughter. Mum and daughter both are good. But as of now, I am on national duties so I think everything else can wait. The World Cup is a very important campaign.”
These were Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s word when he was gearing up to lead India in the 2015 World Cup in Australia after leading the team in the Test series and the tri-series. One of the finest servants of the country, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s dedication for the nation was never questioned and an anecdote shared by chief selector MSK Prasad is bound to further elevate his stature as the ultimate team man.
Speaking at the sidelines of an event, Prasad revealed how Dhoni had gone on to play and lead India to a memorable win over arch-rivals Pakistan at last year’s Asia Cup despite suffering a severe back injury on the eve of the match.
“While training at the gym late in the night, Dhoni picked up weights and suddenly there was a catch in his back and fell with the weight. Thankfully, the weight did not fall on him. He could not walk, he was literally crawling. He pressed the alarm bell, and the medical staff immediately came and attended him. He was taken on a stretcher,” Prasad recalled.
“As I reached Dhaka, the journalists questioned about Dhoni and I had no answers. The game against Pakistan was crucial, that too, it was on a seaming track. So, I went to Dhoni’s room to know what the issue was. He said, ‘don’t worry MSK Bhai.’ I even asked him what should I tell the scribes, and the answer again was ‘don’t worry MSK Bhai.’ I asked him whether we should call for a replacement, and he again told me not to worry,” Prasad added.
But given the pressure of the game against Pakistan, Prasad took no chance and called up the then chief selector Sandeep Patil to inform him about the whole situation. Consequently, Parthiv Patel joined the team as a replacement. Prasad revealed when he went to check Dhoni, he saw the India captain struggling to even get up from his bed.
“There was so much pressure before a big match. The next morning I went to his room and he told me not to worry. But I felt things were not right. (As a selector) I couldn’t take Dhoni’s words for granted, so I called up the then chief selector Sandeep Patil and told him the situation. Immediately, Parthiv Patel was sent in as a replacement. By evening, Parthiv had joined the team,” Prasad said and added, “I went to his room in the evening and he was just trying to get up from his bed. I asked him if things are alright. As per the Asia Cup rules, we had to submit the team list 24 hours before a game, so I had to check on him. He clearly said that he would play.”
But such was Dhoni’s determination of playing the game, that he was trying his level best to get fit ahead of the match.
“Again at 11 pm, when I went to his room, he was not there. Fortunately, I went to the top floor and I saw Dhoni was trying hard to walk towards the swimming pool. He was literally crawling. Dhoni said he was trying to walk. I was thinking how could he even think of playing when he could barely walk. Dhoni looked at me and said, ‘don’t worry, you have anyway got Parthiv without telling me. So, you are safe,” Prasad revealed.
With uncertainty prevailing all over, Dhoni once again did something that he had done throughout his career and that is springing surprises as he was all padded up and ready to lead the team, leaving everyone shocked.
“Before the team was announced in the afternoon, Dhoni was all dressed up for the game. He called me to his room and asked me why was I worrying so much? Then he said, even if my one leg is not there, I will still play against Pakistan.”
“This is what Dhoni is made of,” Prasad concluded.