Ravindra Jadeja Reveals ‘The Mahendra Connection’ Of His Cricket Career

Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni have been an integral part of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) setup for more than a decade now. Not only that, they have played for India together for most of the 2010s until 2019. 

However, Dhoni isn’t the only ‘Mahendra’ who has played a crucial role in his cricket career. His childhood coach, Mahendra Singh Chauhan built him into the cricketer we know him to be today. Coincidentally, he also comes from Bihar like Dhoni, until Ranchi became the capital of the new state of Jharkhand in the new millennium. 

“I started playing in Jamnagar at a ground called ‘Cricket Bungalow’ when I was about 8-9 years old. My coach, who still trains at the same ground, is from Bihar and his name is Mahendra Singh Chauhan. I have told Mahi bhai too that my cricket journey revolves around two Mahendras – Mahendra Singh Chauhan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni,” Jadeja told Ashwin on his podcast ‘Kutti Stories with Ash’. 

“He was a police officer and believed that a sportsman should be at peak fitness. He thought batting and bowling could be managed, but one had to run a lot. My fitness level and fielding skills can be attributed to running 15-20 km around Jamnagar," the veteran all-rounder who is known for his fitness, agility and fielding added. 

When Ashwin asked to describe Dhoni in one word on the podcast, Jadeja responded in such a way that it put Dhoni on a huge pedestal. “There is no single word to describe his greatness. He is above everyone,” the Saurashtra cricketer said.