India and Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni rues his inability to witness the birth of his daughter Ziva in February while he was away Down Under for the ICC World Cup
Mahendra Singh Dhoni with his two-month-old daughter Ziva and wife Sakshi
Bengaluru: India and Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on World Cup duty when his daughter Ziva was born at a private hospital in Gurgaon on February 6.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni with his two-month-old daughter Ziva and wife Sakshi at the Kamraj domestic airport in Chennai recently. Pic/PTI
ADVERTISEMENT
Many felt that the the skipper would return home briefly at the time since the start of the World Cup (February 14) was over a a week away.
However, he chose to stay put in Australia saying, "Yes, I have been blessed with a baby daughter and both mum and child are fine. But I am on national duty. World Cup is important for me and I rather be here."
On Monday, however, ahead of the Indian Premier League match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, replying to a query on his now two-month-old baby Ziva, Dhoni said he missed her badly on long Australian tour.
"When she was born I was not in India, had not seen her. It was a tough period," he said. Dhoni said the birth of a child brings changes in people's lives.
Soothing smile
"Your life does change with the kind of smile the baby gives you," he said.
Dhoni further said, "She doesn't care whether I play for my country or play for a good franchisee like Chennai. If she wants to cry, she cries. It's a very good feeling."