Hardik Pandya makes bold statement about MS Dhoni ahead of IPL 2023 Qualifier 1, calls CSK skipper’s haters ‘devil’

Hardik Pandya also revealed the advice he received from MS Dhoni when the India all-rounder asked about how to play situations and handle pressure.

Hardik Pandya makes bold statement about MS Dhoni ahead of IPL 2023 Qualifier 1, calls CSK skipper’s haters ‘devil’

Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni

Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Hardik Pandya is known to share a great relationship with former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. As Pandya’s GT gear up to take on Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2023 Qualifier 1, Pandya made a bold statement about MS Dhoni and his haters. The GT captain, while talking about his relationship with Dhoni said that one needs to be a proper devil to hate the CSK skipper. 

Pandya said that while people on the outside see Dhoni as a serious man, he does not look at MSD like that. He further stated that he looks at MS Dhoni as a dear friend and dear brother with whom can chill and crack jokes.

YouTube video

“A lot of people think Mahi is serious and all that. For me, I crack jokes and I don’t see him as Mahendra Singh Dhoni,” he said in a video posted by Gujarat Titans.

“Obviously, I have learned a lot of things from him, a lot of positive things, which I’ve learned from him just while watching, not even much talking. But for me, he’s just my dear friend, dear brother, who I do pranks, and who I chill with. I’ll always be a Mahendra Singh Dhoni fan, and for so many fans out there and so many cricket lovers. You need to be a proper devil to hate MS Dhoni.”

Related: “Pick Payers who are team first,” MS Dhoni reveals CSK’s mantra of success as they qualify for 12th IPL playoff

What did MS Dhoni tell Hardik Pandya about handling pressure?

hardik pandya msd

Hardik Pandya also revealed the advice he received from MS Dhoni when the India all-rounder asked about how to play situations and handle pressure. While talking to Star Sports, Pandya revealed that he asked this question in 2016 and Dhoni’s answer remains with him to date. 

“I asked him how to handle international pressure or pressure of any kind. Dhoni then told me ‘Look at the scoreboard and play. Look at what the team requires. This takes you away from your personal goal and keeps the team first.’,” revealed Pandya.

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