Former Indian explosive opener Shikhar Dhawan has finally addressed the rumored fallout with Virat Kohli during the 2014-15 Australia tour in his new book, “The One: Cricket, My Life and More,” written with Chandresh Narayanan and Namita Kala and published by Harper Sport in 2025.
In his book, Dhawan also shared how MS Dhoni’s composed leadership turned a tense situation into a moment of laughter on the same Australia tour, as per Hindustan Times. The former left-handed batter takes fans back to the 2014 Test series between India and Australia as he recalls the Brisbane Test when the team was battling both fierce opponents and intense media scrutiny.
During that Test match, Shikhar Dhawan injured his hand while batting and had to retire hurt. The plan was for him to resume his innings the next morning, but the pain and swelling didn’t allow him to take the field. As a result, Virat Kohli had to walk out earlier than expected, and this change in the batting order soon led to wild speculation among the fans and media.
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The media turned the story into a headline-grabbing controversy, making people believe a rift between Kohli and Dhawan that never really existed. Shikhar Dhawan recalled how he was surprised and hurt by the fake stories spreading outside the dressing room.
At a time when the situation could have easily gotten out of hand, it was MS Dhoni who stepped in and defused the tension in his trademark style. During a press conference, when asked about the rumored dispute between Kohli and Dhawan, the former Indian captain handled it with a mix of humor and authority that instantly killed the story.
With just one light-hearted remark, he dismissed the controversy completely, protecting his teammates and bringing a smile back to everyone’s faces. Dhoni quashed the ‘Dhawan vs. Kohli’ narrative by saying, “Whoever has passed on this information deserves to write for a Marvel or Warner Bros. superhero movie!”
Shikhar Dhawan reveals how MS Dhoni’s handling of rumours taught him emotional strength
The former Indian opener has described that moment as a masterclass in leadership. Dhawan said that Dhoni’s reaction showed how a captain could lead not just with tactics, but with emotional intelligence.
Instead of letting the story grow, Dhoni shielded his players and the team environment from unnecessary drama. The book also reveals how the incident changed Dhawan’s outlook on handling criticism. He admitted that, over time, he learned to stop letting outside opinions affect his peace of mind.
The former Indian opener came to understand that journalists and commentators have their jobs to do, but his focus needed to stay on his own performance and mindset. It was a valuable lesson in self-control and mental strength.
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Shikhar Dhawan recalls emotional moments from MS Dhoni’s shock Test retirement in 2014
Additionally, Shikhar Dhawan also mentioned another unforgettable chapter, and that is MS Dhoni’s sudden retirement from Test cricket after the Melbourne Test in December 2014, in his book. The news came as a complete surprise to Gabbar and the entire team.
The players were stunned, and coach Duncan Fletcher looked visibly shaken. Dhawan recalled walking up to Dhoni, hugging him, and thanking him for everything he had done for Indian cricket. He writes that everyone knew the Indian team’s journey in Tests would be harder without Dhoni, but also that his decision came from an instinctive sense of timing and that he ‘knew’ it was the right moment to pass the Test baton to Kohli.
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