How Dhoni calmed Rahul Tripathi ahead of his IPL debut
What's the story
In a recent episode of the House of Glory podcast, Indian cricketer Rahul Tripathi revealed how former captain MS Dhoni's guidance proved crucial for his successful debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) back in 2017.
Back then, Tripathi was playing for Rising Pune Supergiants and was in the same team as Dhoni.
The ex-Indian captain's advice helped him deal with pre-match jitters.
Guidance
Dhoni's advice calmed Tripathi's nerves
Tripathi recalled a moment when Dhoni, seeing him in the dressing room two days before his first match, offered some words of wisdom.
"He called me and told me not to try or think about anything extra," Tripathi said. "He asked me to play the way I was playing while training."
This advice from such a renowned player boosted Tripathi's confidence and eased his nerves ahead of his debut game.
Perseverance
Tripathi's journey to international cricket
Tripathi made his international debut at 31, during a T20I series against Sri Lanka in January 2023.
Looking back at his journey, he said how he stayed positive while waiting for this opportunity.
"I never gave up," Tripathi said. "At times, it was tough and it felt that the dream to represent India was quite far away."
His belief took him to his dream.
Debut
Tripathi's emotional debut at home ground
Tripathi called his T20I debut an emotional moment, particularly because it happened at his home ground in Pune.
"After traveling with the team for 6-7 hours, I was finally able to make my T20I debut," he said.
"Coincidentally, I made my debut at my home ground in Pune, where I have been playing cricket since childhood."
This serendipitous timing made this milestone in his career all the more special.
Mentorship
Tripathi credits Abhishek Nayar for his success
Along with Dhoni's guidance, Tripathi also credited former Indian cricketer and current batting coach Abhishek Nayar for his success.
"I think Abhishek Nayar has made the biggest and most important contribution in my journey," Tripathi said.
Calling Nayar his elder brother, he credited their time together at BPCL before joining Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as a transformative experience in his career.