Ravindra Jadeja, India’s star all-rounder, recently shared a heartwarming anecdote about his first meeting with Mahendra Singh Dhoni in 2005. Speaking on Ravichandran Ashwin’s YouTube show Kutti Stories with Ash, Jadeja revealed that he saw Dhoni for the first time on a flight during the Challenger Trophy. While Dhoni was in business class, Jadeja sat in economy and was too nervous to approach the legendary cricketer.

“I was hesitant and thought, how can I go with him?” Jadeja said. He remembered trying to escape when Dhoni’s phone dropped, seeing it as a chance to avoid conversation. Jadeja also admitted that even today, he gets nervous if Dhoni seems off-mood.

Despite the rocky start, the two have since built a legendary partnership at Chennai Super Kings, culminating in the unforgettable moment when Dhoni lifted Jadeja after CSK’s IPL 2023 victory.