Why MS Dhoni Gave a Funny Nickname to Mohit Sharma During the IPL?
MS Dhoni gave pacer Mohit Sharma the nickname Maria Sharapova due to his loud grunting while bowling, similar to the tennis star. Mohit, who took 57 wickets in 47 CSK matches, says the grunt tricks batters into thinking the ball is faster, giving him a psychological edge.
As the IPL 2025 season progresses, Delhi Capitals pacer Mohit Sharma shared a lighthearted anecdote involving legendary captain MS Dhoni. The 36-year-old bowler, who began his IPL journey with Chennai Super Kings in 2013 and claimed 57 wickets in 47 matches for them, revealed that Dhoni had once nicknamed him “Maria Sharapova”. The reason? His loud grunts while bowling reminded Dhoni of the Russian tennis star, famous for her intense on-court vocal expressions.
Mohit explained that the grunting wasn’t intentional, but he believed it gave him a psychological edge, making batters expect faster deliveries than he bowled. He said Dhoni joked, “You grunt as loud as some of the tennis players”, which eventually led to the nickname.
The pacer also welcomed recent rule changes in IPL 2025. The BCCI has lifted the COVID-era ban on using saliva to shine the ball and introduced the “second ball rule”, allowing teams to replace the ball after the 10th over of the second innings in night games to counteract dew. Mohit noted that the option is a “100% helpful” relief for bowlers, as wet conditions often disrupt grip and control, particularly in later overs of the match.
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