Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra recalled an incident when he lend his abdominal guard to Sachin Tendulkar on the 2003-04 tour of Australia. Chopra revealed that cricketers mostly carry a lot of equipment but they hardly carry two abdominal guards.

Sachin’s abdominal guard broke on the tour and thus he had to borrow someone before going out to bat.

Recalling the incident, Aakash Chopra said on YouTube Channel Khaane Mein Kya Hai, “We were together in the dressing room. His abdominal guard actually broke. So, he had to borrow someone’s. I gave it. You carry a lot of things, but you don’t carry two abdominal guards.”

During the same discussion, Chopra revealed that he shared the same room on the India A tour to Zimbabwe and Kenya with former Indian skipper MS Dhoni, who was very shy back then. The renowned commentator said Dhoni never ordered room service and ate vegetarian food for 45 days with him without any complaints.

Chopra concluded, “He was a very shy guy at that point in time. So, he won’t order. He said, ‘You order whatever you feel like.’ Now, if I have to order, I will order palak paneer or vegetarian food. Poor guy ate vegetarian. He used to bring some pastry from downstairs. For 45 days, he did not call room service even once.”

Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra played 10 Test matches in which he scored 437 runs at an average of 23. Interestingly, Chopra played six out of the 10 Test matches against the potent Australian team. 

On the other hand, MS Dhoni didn’t play a single game in IPL 2026 for Chennai Super Kings due to injury woes. Dhoni hasn’t yet officially announced his retirement in the IPL.