Former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni was recently spotted at the Chennai airport, and the tight security surrounding him sparked curiosity among fans. While the purpose of his visit remained undisclosed, it has been revealed that he met with Afghanistan’s spin sensation, Rashid Khan, ahead of their highly anticipated match against Pakistan on October 24th.
Rashid Khan took to his official social media handle to share a photo of their meeting and captioned it with, “Always a pleasure to meet you Mahi bhai.” This interaction between Dhoni and Rashid Khan excited cricket enthusiasts, as the two have shared numerous on-field battles over the years.
The Afghanistan vs. Pakistan clash had been eagerly awaited, primarily due to Pakistan’s historical difficulties in facing spin bowlers. Afghanistan boasts one of the finest spin-bowling units in the tournament, featuring the likes of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi.
Both teams were under significant pressure leading up to the match, having suffered losses in their previous games. Afghanistan faced a resounding 149-run defeat against New Zealand in Chennai after a thrilling victory over defending champions England.
Meanwhile, Pakistan had started their campaign with convincing wins against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka but encountered tough challenges from India and Australia, resulting in consecutive losses.
Dhoni’s presence in Chennai, a city he knows well from his long association with the Chennai Super Kings, likely offered valuable insights to Rashid Khan. With his extensive experience, the 42-year-old Dhoni might have shared crucial tips about the local pitch conditions and strategies.