In New Podcast, MS Dhoni Shares Rare Stories From His Childhood and Family Life

In a recent podcast episode on his personal app, Mahendra Singh Dhoni opened up about his formative years in Ranchi, offering listeners a rare glimpse into his early life. The legendary cricketer, who continues to grab headlines with his Indian Premier League performances for Chennai Super Kings, shared anecdotes and reflections that highlighted his disciplined upbringing.

On Saturday, during CSK’s match against Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Dhoni’s parents, Pan Singh and Devaki Devi, were spotted in the stands. Although Dhoni remained unbeaten with a score of 30 off 26 balls, Chennai ultimately suffered a 25-run defeat. In the podcast, while touching upon speculation surrounding his retirement, Dhoni also delved into his childhood memories and family influences.

Speaking with Raj Shamani, Dhoni reminisced about his days growing up in Ranchi. He recalled the deep respect and fear he had for his father during those years. He also shared how he never felt a sense of insecurity as a child. According to him, life followed a set routine, which brought stability and left little room for uncertainty.

“Our days would start at 5:30 in the morning and followed a fixed pattern,” Dhoni shared. “There was no concept of insecurity. Every day looked the same. No distractions like mobile phones or unnecessary showoff.”

He went on to describe himself as someone who embraces challenges but doesn’t actively seek them out. He expressed that personal glory never mattered as much as the team’s success. “If we win comfortably and I don’t have to bat, that’s fine by me. I just want India to win. It doesn’t matter who scored the runs or took the wickets.”

Reflecting on his childhood environment, Dhoni said his schooling took place within the same colony where he lived, leaving little room for mischief. His teachers also taught his elder brother, who is ten years older, so the family was well known in the neighborhood. The most competitive moments in his early days, he said, were during games with friends, where losing meant returning stronger the next day.

He candidly admitted, “I used to be very scared of my father. He was a strict man, very particular about time and discipline. That’s where I picked up my own sense of punctuality. It wasn’t about physical punishment-he never beat us-but that sense of fear was always there. My friends would climb walls in the colony, but I never did. I always thought, what if my father saw? We didn’t even know what the consequence would be, but the fear was real.”