Grateful for His Guidance: Rahul Tripathi Acknowledges Dhoni for IPL Achievements
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Synopsis
Rahul Tripathi credits MS Dhoni for his IPL success, recalling the invaluable advice he received before his debut. Dhoni's guidance helped calm his nerves and encouraged him to play naturally. Tripathi made his international debut in January 2023 at the age of 31, attributing his achievements to hard work and the support of his mentor, Abhishek Nayar.
Key Takeaways
- Rahul Tripathi credits MS Dhoni for calming nerves before his IPL debut.
- Dhoni advised him to play naturally without overthinking.
- Tripathi finally made his international debut at age 31.
- He maintained a positive mindset while waiting for his chance.
- Abhishek Nayar played a crucial role in his cricketing journey.
New Delhi, March 6 (NationPress) Indian cricketer Rahul Tripathi has shared how some words of wisdom from his former captain MS Dhoni prior to his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut proved invaluable back in 2017. Tripathi recounted that Dhoni advised him to avoid overthinking and to remain true to his natural playing style. Making his IPL debut in the tenth season of the league, Tripathi played for the Rising Pune Supergiants alongside Dhoni. Just before his inaugural match with the franchise, the legendary former India captain helped Tripathi ease his nerves.
“Two days ahead of my first match, I was watching him in the dressing room. He called me over and urged me not to try or think about anything beyond my usual gameplay during practice. The fact that such advice came from a player of his caliber, especially as I was about to play my debut match, was incredibly reassuring. It truly calmed my nerves,” Tripathi shared on the House of Glory podcast.
“I feel fortunate to have spent time with him. Many in the cricket community dream of sharing experiences and competing alongside him. Being in his presence has shown me that he values simplicity,” he continued.
After a lengthy wait, Tripathi finally made his international debut for India during the T20I series against Sri Lanka in January 2023 at the age of 31. Reflecting on the challenging journey, the top-order batsman explained how he maintained a positive mindset while anticipating his chance to represent India.
“I never lost hope. It was difficult at times, and the dream of representing India felt distant. However, I resolved to keep striving and firmly believed that one day I would get my awaited opportunity. This belief was crucial in finally receiving that chance,” he stated.
“It was a deeply emotional experience. After traveling with the team for 6-7 hours, making my T20I debut was surreal. Coincidentally, I debuted at my home ground in Pune, where I have played cricket since childhood. It felt like it was meant to be,” Tripathi reminisced about the moment he received his debut T20I cap.
In addition to his dedication and perseverance, the 34-year-old attributed his success to Abhishek Nayar, the former India cricketer and batting coach of the current Indian team.
Discussing his experience with Nayar in the Kolkata Knight Riders camp, Tripathi remarked, “I credit a significant part of my journey to Abhishek Nayar. I regard him as my elder brother. Meeting him was a transformative moment in my life. We played together at BPCL for a year, but joining KKR offered a different experience with Dinesh Karthik also being present. I genuinely enjoyed my time there. I refer to him as Abhi dada, and I believe it’s thanks to his influence that I could achieve my goal of playing for India.”
As the 18th edition of the IPL approaches, set to commence on March 22, Tripathi will be representing the five-time champions Chennai Super Kings.
