You would have never picturized Virat Kohli wearing the gloves and keeping the wicket. Wicketkeeping word never goes with him but MS Dhoni, who is known for doing impossible possible, had made the current Indian captain to keep the wickets in 2015.
In the recent chat with Mayank Agarwal in the show ‘open nets with Mayank’, Virat Kohli spilt the beans when the Test opener asked him the reason behind Dhoni asking to do wicket-keeping.
Ask MS Dhoni, says, Virat Kohli
In the ODI match against Bangladesh in 2015, the then captain MS Dhoni handed the gloves to Virat Kohli in 44th over and went off the field. He returned to 45th over and both resumed their duty back.
Replying to Mayank’s question, Kohli said to ask MS Dhoni for the real reason. He also shared his experience of wicketkeeping the one over when he had to face Umesh Yadav’s pace bowling behind the wickets. He was feared to face the bowler but didn’t wear the helmet and pad.
Although he acknowledged that MS Dhoni’s job was tough, he was proud to successfully do carry the role.
“In his response, Kohli said: “Kabhi Mahi bhai se puchiyo how did this happen (Try and ask Mahi Bhai as to how did this happen).He said ‘yaar do teen over just keep wickets (Mate, please keep wickets for couple of overs)’. I was keeping wickets and also adjusting the field,” Kohli revealed.
“Then I understood he (Dhoni) has a lot on his plate when he is on the field because he has to focus on every ball and also adjust the field.
“The one problem was Umesh (Yadav) was bowling and he was bowling gas. I thought naak pe lag jaegy ball (what if I get hit in the face) and I wanted to wear a helmet but then thought bohot beizati ho jaegy (it would be very humiliating),” Kohli added.
Meanwhile, MS Dhoni last played for India in 2019 during the World Cup. Both Kohli and Dhoni will be seen leading RCB and CSK respectively in the upcoming IPL edition in September in UAE.