There is arguably no better sight in world cricket than Imran Tahir celebrating a wicket. The bowler gives the biggest smile, and runs nearly full-length of the stadium to celebrate a dismissal. Be it for South Africa or a domestic team, or in any T20 leagues, Tahir’s celebrations remains the same. This was one of the major reasons why the South Africa spinner gained massive popularity among Chennai Super Kings fans while playing for the franchise in IPL last year. The right-arm leggie, who himself is a veteran of the game, was seen often seen discussing tactics with CSK skipper MS Dhoni, and picked up big wickets in crucial moments of the match.
In a recent interaction, Tahir recalled the first time he met Dhoni during IPL 2017. At the time, CSK was going through a two-year suspension, and Dhoni was leading Rising Pune Supergiant. Tahir had gone unsold at the auction, but after Mitchell Marsh picked an injury, RPS replaced him with the Proteas spinner.
Tahir, speaking to Anis Sajan on in a Facebook Live session chat show ‘Cricket Unplugged’, recalled the moment when Dhoni invited him to his room. “I had been watching him (Dhoni) on TV. But I never met in person. I first met him when I got picked for Pune and actually I was quite nervous, I didn’t know how to react,” Tahir said.
He went on to add that he was amazed when once, he was outside his room and Mahi came from inside his room and said, “Imran bhai, welcome. This is my room and you are more than welcome anytime.”
“This is probably the best thing to hear from a legend like Dhoni. Like I said, it was very kind of him. He is such a down to earth guy. I thought ‘If you are offering me that, I am definitely coming to your room’. That was very kind of him,” Tahir said.
Tahir further shared that the team often met up in Dhoni’s room where everyone spent time together with the latter arranging for mangoes for all over the world to be coming in from all over the world for his squad which they would enjoy together.
Tahir has so far played 55 IPL matches in which he has picked up 79 wickets atn average of 20.39 and an economy rate of 7.88.
With the IPL all ready to start after a 6 month suspension in September later this year, Tahir and Dhoni look all set to be reunited.
