'Where is Sree?; inform team manager now': R Ashwin recalls Dhoni's angriest moment

NEW DELHI: 'I Have The Streets- A Kutty Cricket Story', the autobiography of Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is now the talk of town. In the 184-page autobiography, Ashwin reveals everything from the beginning of his cricket career to the 2011 World Cup victory of the Indian team. Published by Penguin Random House, Ashwin co-authored the book with author Siddharth Monga.

In one chapter Ashwin reminisces about a small altercation between bowler Sreesanth and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The incident took place in Port Elizabeth in 2010 where India was facing South Africa.

R ASHWIN:

“I was the water boy during the tournament and while taking the bottles to the ground during the break, Dhoni would ask me about Sree. Dhoni asks with such blasé attitude that we won't doubt his intentions. I was not ready to reveal the details because I feared what it would bring to the team. MS Dhoni then asked me to enquire where Sree was.

I then told him Sree was in the dressing room. Dhoni asked me to tell Sreesanth to come down and sit with other reserves in the dugout. It surprised me that Dhoni while busy facing bowlers at the crease found time to locate Sreesanth in the dressing room.

I was hesitant to approach Sreesanth and assigned the duty to M Vijay. However, Vijay declined it forcing me to go up and convey what Dhoni said to Sree.

“Can’t you take the water bottles to the pitch, then why are you asking me to come down” This was the response from Sree.

In the next over, Dhoni demanded a helmet and I was assigned to take it to him. When I approached near, I could see the anger on his face. He asked me about Sree and I told him that the Kerala bowler was having a massage in the dressing room. Without any waiting, Dhoni asked me to contact team manager Rajib sir and tell him to book tickets for Sreesanth to India the very next day.

I was dumbstruck and had never seen Dhoni in such anger. While I stood speechless, Dhoni unleashed his wrath at me asking whether I couldn’t decipher English or not.

I went straight back and revealed the news. Sreesanth knew about the consequences and immediately changed his dress to come down and sit with the reserve players. Sree would wait for his chance to take bottles to the pitch every time from then. But Dhoni would only come near me ignoring Sree. Dhoni asked me whether I informed Rajib sir about the issue.

However, the tensions eased as the two sorted things out.