When Dhoni lost his cool with Shami during 2014 New Zealand tour

‘I’m your senior and your captain, fool someone else,’ Dhoni had said to Shami

ms-dhoni-mohammed-shami M.S. Dhoni; Mohammed Shami | AP

Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami has revealed that Mahendra Singh Dhoni once lost his cool on the bowler, reminding him that he was his captain and to “fool someone else”, after the pacer had bowled a bouncer during the second Test when India toured New Zealand in 2014.

Shami was in conversation with cricketer Manoj Tiwary during an Instagram Live session when he recalled the incident. Many players have been increasingly taking to social media platforms during the lockdown to connect with others to talk about life before COVID-19 and cricket, including interesting incidents and anecdotes.

Shami recalled that during the second Test at Wellington’s Basin Reserve, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum was dropped early on in the second innings, but went on to score a triple century, helping the Kiwis to a mammoth score of 680.

“After McCullum was dropped on 14, on that day we thought, ‘it’s alright, we will send him back soon’. Then he batted till lunch again the next day. He continued till tea and the day was about to end, so I asked Virat why did you drop him,” Shami told Tiwary.

McCullum scored 302 off 559 balls. Shami said he grew frustrated after another catch was dropped, and he threw a bouncer on the last delivery before lunch that went over Dhoni’s head for four.

“As we were heading towards the dressing room for lunch, Mahi bhai came to me and said, ‘I know the catch was dropped, but you should have bowled the last ball properly’. I told him the ball slipped out of my hands,” Shami said.

At this point, Dhoni lost his temper on Shami and told him not to lie to him.

Mahi bhai ne mujhe thode se tight language mein bola, ‘Dekh beta, bohot log aaye mere saamne. Bohot log khel ke chale gaye jhut mat bol.’ (Mahi bhai told me sternly, ‘See, I’ve seen many cricketers come and go during my time. Don’t lie to me’) He said in a different way, but it was with a bit of aggression. He further said, ‘Bete tumhare senior hain, tumhare captain hain hum. Ye bewakoof kisi aur ko banana (I’m your senior and your captain, fool someone else),” Shami added.

The Test was drawn after India, chasing a target of 435, scored just 166/3, and New Zealand won the two-match series 1-0.

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