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Former India captain Virat Kohli endured one of the lowest phases of his career during early to mid-2022, a period marked by captaincy losses across formats and an alarming dip in form with the bat. Kohli’s struggles extended to both international cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he found himself unable to live up to his usual high standards.
Virat Kohli’s toughest phase and MS Dhoni’s unexpected support
Amidst this challenging phase, Kohli stepped down as India’s Test captain in January 2022, following India’s series loss to South Africa. This decision came after he had already relinquished T20I captaincy post the T20 World Cup 2021 and was later removed as ODI captain by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The series of leadership exits fueled speculation about his relationship with the cricketing board and fellow teammates.
Months later, in a candid press conference after India’s Asia Cup 2022 loss to Pakistan, Kohli revealed that despite being one of the most influential figures in Indian cricket, only one person from the cricketing world personally reached out to him – MS Dhoni.
“Let me tell you one thing: when I left Test captaincy, I got a message from only one person, with whom I had played previously; that was MS Dhoni. Many people have my number. On TV, people give lots of suggestions, people have a lot to say. But none of the people who had my number sent me a message,” Kohli said, subtly addressing the lack of personal support from others in Indian cricket.
Kohli’s revelation immediately went viral, triggering widespread discussions about his equation with teammates and the Indian cricket fraternity. It also ignited curiosity among fans, with many wondering: What exactly did Dhoni say to Kohli in that message?
Also READ: Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar: Who has better ODI stats at 14,000 runs?
MS Dhoni finally breaks his silence on the viral message
Now, after nearly two years of silence, Dhoni has finally addressed the matter. Speaking at a corporate event, Dhoni was once again asked about the mystery message he had sent to Kohli. In his classic, calm and composed style, Dhoni offered a cryptic yet intriguing response:
“It’s déjà vu. I was asked a similar question in a JioHotstar show; you will see the answer during the IPL. I’m not great when it comes to being in touch with people, but yeah, certain times when you feel someone needs you, you just drop in a message,” Dhoni said.
With this statement, Dhoni once again displayed his characteristic humility and discretion. He did not reveal the exact words of his message but subtly emphasized the importance of reaching out when someone truly needs support. His mention of a JioHotstar show set to air during IPL 2025 has now left fans eagerly waiting for his full response, adding an element of anticipation to the long-running speculation.
Had a Privelege to interact with @msdhoni at a private corporate event @amittalwalkar @anupamkumar01 @rs_3702 pic.twitter.com/T9yiwAwhcG
— Arpit Awasthi (@arpzrocz) February 25, 2025
