While wishing MS Dhoni on his birthday, Aakash Chopra shared some interesting stories about the then-newcomer wicketkeeper-batsman, when the duo had shared a room long ago in 2004.

Aakash Chopra mentioned that MS Dhoni was very different from the numerous cricketers he had encountered during his career.

The reputed commentator added that MS Dhoni was totally unlike what his looks suggested.

Aakash Chopra narrated an incident from India A’s 2004 tour to Zimbabwe and Kenya when he and MS Dhoni had shared a room.

Aakash Chopra mentioned that he was taken aback by MS Dhoni’s polite nature, which was quite contrary to what the former had expected.

He added that MS Dhoni’s simplicity was definitely not due to his lack of confidence.

Aakash Chopra shared the supremely confident reply he got from MS Dhoni when he had asked the latter to cut his hair for people to take him more seriously.

Aakash Chopra talked in awe about how MS Dhoni’s words had come true, with the latter’s hairstyle being imitated everywhere.

Aakash Chopra on MS Dhoni’s unique qualities as a finisher

Aakash Chopra opined that MS Dhoni had brought a different dimension to limited-over run chases, which was in sharp contrast to the methods followed by Michael Bevan and Lance Klusener earlier.

He highlighted MS Dhoni’s quality of planning his innings based on the number of deliveries remaining at his disposal.

Aakash Chopra revealed that numerous cricketers have told him about this advice they had received from MS Dhoni.

He added that this approach of MS Dhoni has also been corroborated by all youngsters like Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Vijay Shankar.

Aakash Chopra also shared the template followed by MS Dhoni of initially going for singles and doubles and then targeting the weaker links in the opposition bowling lineups.

The former opener iterated that MS Dhoni has all the attributes required to be a great finisher and went on to claim that there would never be anyone like him.

Aakash Chopra signed off by stating that whenever a book is written on cricket, MS Dhoni would have the privilege of writing the last chapter.

India have won 47 of the 50 ODI matches in which MS Dhoni has remained unbeaten while chasing. In successful ODI run chases, MS Dhoni averages a Bradmanesque 102.7, the most among all batsmen.

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