Often disagreed with Sachin: MS

New Delhi, March 20: Mahendra Singh Dhoni still feels shy to speak to his idol Sachin Tendulkar off the field but says his honest opinions on a cricket field about team strategy, including occasional differences of opinions with the veteran, might have landed him the India captaincy in 2007.

Dhoni said he used to have on-field discussion with Tendulkar on team strategy and would not mind disagreeing with his senior colleague even before he was made captain.

“Tendulkar is my sporting hero and because of the aura he carries, I still have difficulties speaking up to him outside a cricket field. But on field, I always give my honest inputs about team strategy,” Dhoni said.

“Tendulkar and I used to discuss team strategy on the field. If I am convinced I would even disagree with him and it happened quiet often. I think my honesty has paid dividends when he recommended me for captaincy. He might be thinking that I have learnt in quick time on different aspects of the game and team strategy,” he

said.

Tendulkar and I used to discuss team strategy on the field. If I am convinced I would disagree with him... I think my honesty paid dividends when he recommended me for captaincy

–– M.S. Dhoni Indian captain

“Even if I was not made the captain, it was a huge thing that Tendulkar had recommended my name for captaincy,” the Indian captain said at the launch of a book titled Tendulkar: the Cricketer of the Century.

Asked about his first interaction with Tendulkar, Dhoni said, “That was in 2004 December when India toured Bangladesh. I first spoke to him, he said ‘Hi How are you?’ while welcoming me in the team.

“There was the whole team, Tendulkar was sitting at the middle portion of a long table, Dada (Sourav Ganguly) and Rahul (Dravid) bhai were there. I was told to make a speech in front of them, standing up on a chair,” Dhon i recalled.