Shikhar Dhawan recalls the time when MS Dhoni silenced the Kohli-Dhawan rift rumours

The most recent book by Shikhar Dhawan is more than just a trip down memory lane filled with achievements, cover drives, and locker-room jokes. It also provided insight into the stressful 2014–15 tour of Australia. Dhawan wrote on Virat Kohli's much-discussed fallout. In his Captain Cool manner, MS Dhoni had calmed the drama in the dressing room.

According to the Hindustan Times, Dhawan also described in his book how MS Dhoni's calm leadership transformed a difficult situation into a moment of laughter during the same Australia tour. The former left-handed hitter reminisces about the 2014 Brisbane Test, when Australia and India faced off against formidable opponents and considerable media scrutiny.

Dhawan stated that he was unable to take guard the following morning as scheduled due to a blow to his hand, which prompted him to retire. He remembers that Virat Kohli had to prepare quickly. What started as just a shift in the batting order quickly turned into rumours of conflict and confrontation.

People were led to believe that there was a genuine schism between Kohli and Dhawan by the media, which turned the subject into an attention-grabbing controversy. Shikhar Dhawan recalls how the false rumours circulating outside the dressing room shocked and wounded him.

Dhawan was more interested in what came after than in the talk. He recalls MS Dhoni standing up during the press conference and handling the pressure before it became a headline about Dhawan vs. Kohli. “Whoever came up with this story should be writing scripts for Marvel or Warner Bros!” Dhoni quipped in response to the inevitable question about friction in the dressing room.

It was a leadership masterpiece, according to the former Indian opener. Dhawan claimed that Dhoni's response demonstrated how a captain could lead with emotional intelligence in addition to strategy.

Dhoni protected his players and the team atmosphere from needless drama rather than allowing the story to develop. The encounter altered Dhawan's perspective on dealing with criticism, which is also revealed in the book. He acknowledged that he eventually learnt to quit allowing other people's opinions to interfere with his mental health.

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