Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has etched his name in the history books for so many reasons. Widely regarded as one of the most successful captains in the history of Indian cricket, Dhoni guided India to all the possible glories across formats during his tenure as captain. 

For the latest sports news and updates download SportsTiger app

From the inaugural T20 World Cup to the 2011 World Cup (ODI), Champions Trophy title and ICC Test Mace twice, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has won it all. While Dhoni had announced his retirement in 2020 and made his last appearance at the 2019 World Cup, a fresh development in the matter has revealed that Rishabh Pant was the first one to know about Dhoni’s retirement. 

India’s former fielding coach R Sridhar has revealed an interesting conversation between MS and Pant during the reserve day of India’s World Cup semi-finals against New Zealand. 

“I can now reveal that at the time of the interview to the BCCI, which I attended from Antigua, I was reasonably certain that for all practical purposes, MS has played his last match for the country. He had not announced it, of course, but I will tell you why I knew it. On the morning of the reserve day in our World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Manchester, I was the first person at the breakfast hall. I was nursing my coffee when MS and Rishabh walked in, picked up their stuff and joined me at my table,” he wrote in his book 'Coaching Beyond - My days with the Indian cricket team.' 

Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant had asked MS if he would like to join other teammates, who are leaving for London privately. “Bhaiya, some of the guys are planning to leave for London today itself privately. Would you be interested,” Pant asked. 

For the latest sports news and updates download SportsTiger app

In response, MS said that he won’t leave his last bus drive with the team. Sridhar further revealed that he never narrated the conversation to anyone out of ‘sheer respect’ for Dhoni. “I didn’t say a word to anyone about this conversation out of sheer respect for the man. He had taken me into confidence. So, I didn't utter a word not to Ravi, not to Arun, not even to my wife," said Sridhar.