The remarkable MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli shared the field for 11 years, and while their friendship has grown over time, a distinct boundary remains between them. Dhoni, the former captain of India, has recently discussed his relationship with his successor, Kohli, shedding light on the complexities of their connection. Kohli made his debut in 2008, at a time when Dhoni was already a prominent figure in cricket, having led India to victory in the T20 World Cup and the CB Series in Australia. Widely regarded as India's greatest captain, Dhoni played a pivotal role in mentoring Kohli as he evolved into one of the world's top batsmen. Their bond remained strong until Dhoni's final match for India under Kohli's captaincy in 2019.

In 2022, Kohli shared a nostalgic post on X, featuring a photograph with Dhoni from the 2016 T20 World Cup semifinal against Australia, captioning it with "always my captain." During the previous year's IPL, the two players were seen sharing a warm embrace at the season opener between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which was a touching moment for fans. Despite the evident camaraderie, Dhoni acknowledges that a junior-senior dynamic has always existed between them.

"From the very beginning, Virat was someone eager to contribute. He was never satisfied with scoring 40 or 60 runs; he aimed for a century and wanted to remain not out until the end. That drive was evident from the start. His dedication to improving his batting and his determination to perform propelled him forward. He elevated his fitness levels and was consistently present on the field. He would often approach me, asking, 'What could I have done differently? What else could I have achieved?'" Dhoni shared in his interview with JioHotstar.

We engaged in numerous discussions, which fostered openness between us. I provided him with candid feedback, suggesting things like, "You could have approached this differently" or "This was a necessary risk to take." By sharing these insights, our relationship developed. Initially, it resembled a dynamic between a captain and a newcomer, but as our interactions continued, we became friends. Nevertheless, I still perceive a distinction between us in terms of seniority, even though we share a friendship. Now that we are no longer in captaincy roles, we enjoy a deeper camaraderie, allowing us more time together before matches.

MS Dhoni remains tight-lipped about his text message to Virat Kohli

 For Kohli, the conclusion of his captaincy is a particularly sensitive subject. After resigning as India's T20I captain following the 2021 T20 World Cup, he was removed from the ODI captaincy, which led to a confrontation with then-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly. A few months later, Kohli stepped down as the Test captain. While the decision was ultimately his, it is difficult to dismiss the impact of his removal from the ODI role on this choice.

Kohli later revealed that Dhoni was the only individual who reached out to him after he stepped down, which holds significant meaning for him. Given Dhoni's general disinterest in mobile communication, the fact that he texted Kohli during such a pivotal moment in his career is something Virat will always value. Dhoni chose not to disclose the content of the message, instead emphasizing the importance of their relationship.

"I prefer to discuss the relationship rather than the message itself. I believe in maintaining this confidentiality, as it encourages other cricketers to approach me with their concerns. They can trust that anything shared with me will remain private and not be disclosed to others. This trust is crucial, especially for players with whom you haven't previously played," Dhoni remarked.

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