After 2007 World Cup, Media Made me Feel Like a Terrorist: Dhoni

Dhoni said after the 2007 World Cup debacle, Team India had to be taken away in a police van from the airport.

MS Dhoni. (Photo: IANS)

India’s limited-overs captain MS Dhoni at a promotional event in New York for the upcoming biopic on him – MS Dhoni: The Untold Story – said that after the Indian team came back home from the 2007 World Cup, the media made him feel like a murderer or a terrorist.

The Indian media and fans were very agitated as their team had exited the quadrennial event in the first round after losing to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the Caribbean.

The 35-year-old spoke about the night when they landed in New Delhi after the World Cup. He said that once they landed, they were taken away from the airport under heavy security as several mediapersons tried to ask them questions.

When we landed in Delhi, there was a lot of media. At times, people feel that we are not emotional enough about it, but I always felt, as sports persons, you have to be strong enough to go through everything and it has to be within yourself. It is not about coming for a press conference and crying about stuff, or crying in the field about what has happened.

MS Dhoni

Bangladesh’s Saqibul Hasan (L) plays a shot as India’s captain Rahul Dravid and wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni (C) look on during their 2007 World Cup cricket match in Port of Spain. (Photo: Reuters)

The wicketkeeper-batsman narrated the story about how the team was taken away from the airport in a police van.

At that point of time, when we landed, we had to get out in a police van. I was sitting next to Viru [Virender Sehwag] <i>paaji</i>. It was during the evening or night. We were travelling at a decent speed – 60 or 70 kms – and that’s quite a bit for India, that too on the narrow roads. And, you know, media cars around us with their cameras and big lights on top, it felt as if we had committed a big crime, maybe like a murderer or a terrorist. We were actually chased by them.

MS Dhoni

After the 50-over World Cup debacle, the Indian team led by MS Dhoni won the first ever T20 World Cup later in the same year. (Photo: Reuters)

Dhoni said the experience of landing in India and being taken away in a police van had a huge impact in his life.

After a while, we entered a police station. We went there, we sat for a while and then we left in our cars after 15-20 minutes. That actually had a big impact on me and I channelised the aggression to become a better cricketer and a better human being.

MS Dhoni

After the World Cup debacle, Dhoni’s house was pelted in Ranchi. Indian fans, who should have supported their team at that time, pelted stones on their houses instead.

(With inputs from The Times of India)