Mahendra Singh Dhoni still feelsshy to speak to his idol Sachin Tendulkar off the fieldbut says his honest opinions on a cricket field about teamstrategy, including occasional differences of opinions withthe veteran, might have landed him the India captaincy in2007.
Dhoni said he used to have on-field discussions withTendulkar on team strategy and would not mind disagreeingwith his senior colleague even before he was made captain.
"Tendulkar is my sporting hero and because of the aura hecarries, I still have difficulties speaking up to him outsidea cricket field. But on field, I always give my honest inputsabout team strategy," Dhoni said.
"Tendulkar and I used to discuss team strategy on thefield. If I am convinced I would even disagree with him and ithappened quiet often. I think my honesty has paid dividendswhen he recommended me for captaincy. He might be thinkingthat I have learnt in quick time on different aspects of thegame and team strategy," he said.
"Even if I was not made the captain, it was a huge thingthat Tendulkar had recommended my name for captaincy," theIndian captain said at the launch of a book titled 'Tendulkar:the Cricketer of the Century' written by New Delhi-basedjournalist Vimal Kumar here.
Dhoni revealed that when he met Tendulkar for the firsttime more than 10 years back, he could not speak to him butended up serving the veteran batsman drinks on the field.
"I think that was in a Duleep Trophy match in Pune in2000-01 or 2001-02 season. I was in East Zone squad and wascarrying drinks. Tendulkar made 199 in that match and he wasbatting when I went into the field to serve drinks to myteam-mates at drinks break. Suddenly, he asked me 'can I havea drink also?'"
"That was my first meeting with Tendulkar, my idol. I didnot speak any word to him and ended serving a drink to him,"Dhoni said during a light-hearted conversation with theaudience as Tendulkar left soon after the book was released.