In a shocking reveal, Harbhajan Singh has said that he and MS Dhoni haven’t spoken in 10 years except for some on-field discussions while playing for CSK.
The former teammates who won two World Cups together in 2007 and 2011 have not spoken to each other in over 10 years.
With former spinner Harbhajan did not reveal the cause of the rift, he formed between him and Dhoni, not explaining it in as many words, the tension in his statement indicates a lot has happened between these two.
The last time Harbhajan and Dhoni represented togther was in 2015 during an ODI match against South Africa. Reunited three years later, playing a couple of seasons for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.
“No, I don’t speak to Dhoni. When I was playing at CSK, that’s when we spoke, but otherwise, we haven’t spoken. It’s been 10 years and more. I have no reason; perhaps he does. I don’t know what the reasons are.”
“When we were playing in the IPL at CSK, that’s when we used to talk, and that, too, was restricted to the ground. After that, he did not come to my room, nor did I go to his,” said Harbhajan Singh.
Harbhajan Singh said that Yuvraj and Ashish Nehra athe ones he is regularly in contact with. But when it comes to Dhoni, Harbhajan took a step back.The 103 test veteran didn’t aim directly at Dhoni but said whatever he had to, clearly depicting how things are far from smooth between the two.
“I don’t have anything against him. If he has something to say, he can tell me. But if he did, he would have told me by now. I never tried to call him because I have a lot of passion. I only ring up those who pick up my calls.”
“I don’t have the time otherwise. I stay in touch with the ones I am friends with. A relationship is always about give and take. If I respect you, I hope you will respect me back.”
“Or you respond to me. But if I call you once or twice but don’t get a response, I will probably only meet you as much as I am needed to,” added Harbhajan.
When Dhoni made his debut in December 2004, Harbhajan was already a part of team. Harbhajan Singh had surpassed Anil Kumble to become India’s leading spinner and kept proving his mettle at home and overseas.
He remained so even as the captains around him changed. Dhoni’s process was always clear to build a team for the future, more specifically the 2015 World Cup going by his template, Harbhajan did not fit in India’s scheme of things.
In a strange turn of events, Harbhajan played just 10 ODIs and six T20Is for India after the 2011 World Cup.
He played eight more Tests as long as Dhoni was in charge, the last being in March 2013 and two more in 2015 under Virat Kohli, which turned out to be his final appearance in whites for India.
