Dhoni fan-tastic, but Tiwary not overawed

Wednesday May 14, 03:25 AM

Some months ago, during the under-19 World Cup, Jharkhand boy Saurabh Tiwary proudly spoke of the VVIP number on his phone that worked as his cricketing helpline. "Dhonibhai ka number hai hamare paas," he had said when he was asked about the role the India captain and his fellow Ranchi resident MS Dhoni had played in his evolving as a junior world champ.

Today as the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians shared the practice facilities at the Wankhede Stadium, the boy who still sticks to Dhoni's previous hair style rushed to his hero at the first opportunity. After a brief conversation, where Dhoni enquired after the youngster's batting and preparation for tomorrow's game, Tiwary says that he will catch up with Super Kings skipper at the hotel that the two teams share. "I am sure he will have time for me despite his short stay in Mumbai and the responsibilities he has. Even if he becomes the World XI captain, Dhonibhai will never change. I'm ready to bet on this," says Tiwary.

This has been the first time Tiwary has met Dhoni after the junior World Cup triumph but the two have been in touch. "When I finished as the top run-getter in Deodhar Trophy he sent me an SMS. The message is still in my inbox," he says.

Ask Tiwary if it will be tough for him to play against his mentor and the youngster says that he certainly wouldn't be over-awed. He also gave some Dhoni-centric highlights of a local club game at Ranchi where the fan faced the star. "He came to the field and I knew that it was time for some action. He didn't disappoint and the first seven balls went for sixes. Later he took it easy and let the other youngsters in the team score runs," says Tiwary. Though he hopes that things will not be on the same lines tomorrow at the Wankhede.

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