Indian Cricketers Who Have Fallen Out of Touch with MS Dhoni

Known for his calm demeanor and effective leadership, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has generally maintained good relationships with his teammates. However, reports suggest that some Indian cricketers no longer communicate with him, possibly due to professional differences.

Harbhajan Singh

The fallout between former spinner Harbhajan Singh and Dhoni recently came to light. Harbhajan, who was part of India’s T20 and ODI World Cup-winning squads in 2007 and 2011, revealed that he hasn’t spoken to Dhoni in over a decade. According to Harbhajan, Dhoni does not respond to his calls, signaling a communication gap.

Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir, India’s key opener in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup victories, has openly criticized Dhoni on several occasions.

• Credit for the 2011 World Cup Win: Gambhir has voiced frustration over the perception that Dhoni is solely credited for India’s 2011 World Cup triumph, especially for his iconic six in the final. Gambhir believes the victory was a collective effort and not just one player’s achievement.
• Rotational Policy in 2012: Gambhir also expressed dissatisfaction with Dhoni’s rotational policy during the 2012 CB Series in Australia. The policy rotated senior players like Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virender Sehwag to make room for younger players like Rohit Sharma, as part of a strategy for the 2015 World Cup.

Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh, one of India’s greatest all-rounders, is believed to have had disagreements with Dhoni, especially after his return to international cricket post-cancer treatment.

• Lack of Support: Yuvraj felt he did not receive enough backing from Dhoni during his comeback.
• Personal Differences: In a podcast, Yuvraj shared that his relationship with Dhoni was limited to cricket, as their contrasting personalities prevented a deeper friendship.
• Family Issues: Tensions were further fueled by Yuvraj’s father, Yograj Singh, who often made negative comments about Dhoni’s leadership and decisions in public.

While Dhoni remains one of India’s most celebrated captains, these instances highlight that even great leaders can face professional conflicts in their journey.