IPL 2025: 'We Are Still Friends' - MS Dhoni Opens up on His Bond With Virat Kohli Ahead of CSK vs RCB

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Veteran India wicketkeeper-batter Mahendra Singh Dhoni opens up on his relationship with compatriot and star batter Virat Kohli ahead of the first southern derby of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) renew their historic rivalry when they face off in match 8 of IPL 2025 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday (March 28).

The two teams' on-field rivalry may have gone up another level after their recent meeting in Bengaluru during IPL 2024, but the two stalwarts of the game, who have been part of the IPL since it's inception in 2008, have shared a special bond over the year.

The former CSK captain recalled how Kohli has been someone who wanted to make contributions, be involved every time and his hunger always saw him want convert starts to big scores. MS Dhoni later revealed that their conversations helped grow a good bond.

"Between me and Virat, right from the start, he was someone who wanted to contribute. He was never happy with a 40 or a 60; he wanted to score a 100 and be not out till the end. So, that hunger was there right from the start," Dhoni said in his interview with JioHotstar.

"The way he improved his batting and his will to perform are what kept him going. He raised his fitness levels and was always there on the field. So he was always like that. He would come and talk, 'What I could have done now? I could have done this'. We had a lot of conversations and that really opened us up. "

The 42-year-old later revealed how the two share such a good bond, saying there is a line in the middle between senior and junior, but they are still good friends.

"It was more like a captain and a newcomer at that point of time. But I still feel you have a line in the middle between a senior and a junior, but we are still friends."

The two Indian Premier League greats will once again share the field on Friday (March 28). While they will want their respective teams to win, the duo are expected to continue sharing their bond.