‘Don’t ever dive on my cricket field’: When MS Dhoni’s advice made Dwayne Bravo go ‘wow’ during CSK’s IPL comeback in 2018

Dwayne Bravo recalled an interesting conversation with MS Dhoni in IPL 2018 that made him go 'wow' on the field. (Sportzpics)

Three years on since his IPL retirement, Dwayne Bravo continues to remain one of the most accomplished bowlers in the history of the tournament. He still certainly is the most successful pacer for the Chennai Super Kings with 154 wickets across 10 seasons. Bravo later took up coaching with the franchise for three seasons before ending his great association with MS Dhoni and the five-time champions last year, moving to the Kolkata Knight Riders as their mentor.

However, Bravo’s tether with Dhoni remains intact, with their relationship relying on mutual trust on the field. Bravo continues to call the legendary India captain his ‘brother from another mother’. But it was a stunning piece of advice during CSK’s comeback season after a two-year ban in 2018 that left the Caribbean all-rounder astounded on the field.

“Then in 2018, when we came back after the ban, I dived for a ball while fielding at long-on. Obviously, I’m older then, 34. He called me into the ring, and after the over, as he walked past, he said to me, ‘Don’t ever dive on my cricket field again. Your four overs are more important than saving four runs.’ When he said that, I was like, Wow,'” Bravo revealed on the ‘Beard Before Wicket’ podcast.

“After that, I started fielding in the circle. That’s the kind of thing he does. He knows what you’re good at, and he wants you for that reason. He doesn’t want you to try to do anything or be anybody else. This is what I want from you, this is your job, and I’m happy with this,” he added.

Bravo also recalled his first interaction with Dhoni on the field and how the trust on his own skills and understanding helped him build an almost instant rapport with the former India captain.

“In my first over, he asked me about my field. I told him what I wanted, and he was like, ‘Oh no, maybe…’ I said, ‘No, no, it’s okay, this is what I want.’ I think after that moment, he never told me anything about field placement again. I felt that at that moment he trusted me, that this guy knows what he’s doing and knows what he’s about. From there on, we called each other brother from a different mother. He just allowed me to be me.”

“I think CSK is run by Dhoni and Fleming, and there’s no other people involved, really and truly, and they allow everybody to be themselves. They allow everybody to bring their own different style and unique character, and for me, they just allow me to be me.”“They’re not judgmental. Their moods don’t change. Whether you perform today or don’t perform, whether the team is performing well or not performing well, they’re very consistent with how they treat you and how they treat players as a whole. So, I think that is the uniqueness of that franchise,” he added.