EXCLUSIVE: When MS Dhoni asked this player to lose 20 kg for an IPL contract

Former Afghanistan captain Mohammad Asghar Afghan vividly remembers the unforgettable tied match against India, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, during the 2018 Asia Cup. He entrusted his top spinner, Rashid Khan, with the final over against Ravindra Jadeja, resulting in a nail-biting tie at the Dubai International Stadium. Asghar, renowned as Afghanistan's most successful captain from 2015 to 2021, attributed his team's rise in cricket to the support of the BCCI and the IPL. Afghanistan shed their 'minnows' tag in the recently-concluded ICC ODI World Cup 2023. Once regarded as underdogs, the Afghans went on to record four victories.