Rohit Sharma, the present leader of the Indian cricket team, often shines in press chats. However, ex-leader MS Dhoni had his share of famed times. When India fall short in the 2016 T20 World Cup at home, losing the semi-final to West Indies, one moment from MS Dhoni’s post-game press talk spread widely. He responded strongly to an Australian’s question about his upcoming cricket plans.
The knockout match happened at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India batted first, scoring 192/2 in 20 overs. But, West Indies chased the total. They did it in 19.4 overs. They still had seven wickets left.
At the post-match news conference, Samuel Ferris, an Australian journalist, questioned the Indian captain about his future plans. What occurred next was quite surprising. Let’s take a peek at their talk.
Ferris: MS, you have achieved almost everything. Are you keen to continue playing on after this tournament?
Dhoni: Come here, let’s have some fun. Please come here. Come, come, come…seriously! Yeah, come! (Ferris walks up and sits alongside Dhoni on the podium)
Dhoni: Do you want me to retire?
Ferris: No. That’s what I asked you.
Dhoni: I was hoping it was an Indian media guy, because I can’t really say if you have a brother or a son who can play for India or is a wicket-keeper. Do you think I am unfit?
Ferris: No.
Dhoni: You have seen me running?
Ferris: Very fast.
Dhoni: Do you think I can survive till the 2019 World Cup?
Ferris: Yes, sure.
Dhoni: Then you have answered the question (the room erupts with laughter)
Ferris: Thank you, sir.
MS Dhoni’s behavior during the press conference elicited different reviews. While some thought he was impolite to the journalist, who was only doing his job, others asked what all the fuss was about, describing it as another example of the cricket legend’s funny side.
How the Australian journalist reacted to the MS Dhoni incident
Sharing his thoughts on the viral episode involving MS Dhoni, the Australian journalist stated that he believed he had asked a very ordinary question, and that he may have taken a bullet for his Indian colleagues.
He posted on cricket.com.au, saying:
“I thought it was a pretty standard question to be fair. When Dhoni shocked the world with his Test retirement out of nowhere after the 2014 Boxing Day Test at the MCG, it caught everybody off-guard. With that in mind, I was sure he would get asked again if he was going to retire from limited-overs cricket.
“Word has it, Dhoni hates that question and was ready to pounce on an Indian journalist who was going to ask it. Even though I fired the wrong ammunition, it seems I took a bullet for my Indian colleagues.”
MS Dhoni continued to represent India until 2019 and declared his farewell from international cricket a year later. His last match for India was the 2019 World Cup semi-final, played against New Zealand.
The veteran keeper-batter still captains Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL and even won the title with them during the 2023 season.