There are no Bangladeshi cricketers in the 18th Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This is the first time in years that this has happened.  Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman used to play in the IPL all the time, but Bangladesh don't have a player this season.

Bangladesh cricketer Sabbir Rahman recently said that he had a chance to play in the IPL.  In an interview with BDCricTime, he said that MS Dhoni had personally asked him to play in the IPL.

During 2015–16, Sabbir Rahman was one of Bangladesh's best batters, and he became known as a hard-hitting middle-order player.  He was an important part of the team because of how well he played in the 2016 Asia Cup and the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.

It was during this period that he caught the attention of MS Dhoni, who personally inquired about Sabbir’s availability for the IPL. Recalling the conversation, Sabbir told BDCricTime, "I performed well in the 2016 Asia Cup and had a good run in the 2015 World Cup and the India series. Seeing my performances, Dhoni asked me whether my board would grant me an NOC (No Objection Certificate) and if I was interested in playing the IPL. I immediately said that playing in the IPL is every cricketer’s dream, and if my board approved, I would be ready to play."

Sabbir did not get the NOC from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) because he committed with the national team.  Even though he didn't get the chance, he will always remember the time when a star like MS Dhoni personally wanted him to play in the IPL.

"There was an international tour at the time, so I couldn’t play. The board didn’t issue an NOC. But just the fact that Dhoni himself approached me is a big achievement for me."

Many believe that playing in the IPL could have significantly impacted Sabbir Rahman’s career, a sentiment he himself agrees with. "If I had played in the IPL back then, things would have been different. Playing in a major tournament under a top captain like Dhoni would have been a great experience. The training, the environment, and the exposure would have helped me a lot. But what didn’t happen is now in the past. There’s nothing I can do about it."

Sabbir has always been a huge admirer of MS Dhoni and Shahid Afridi, particularly due to Dhoni’s ability to finish matches. Since both played similar roles for their respective teams, Sabbir saw Dhoni as a role model.

In an interesting revelation, Sabbir shared a personal story about collecting Dhoni’s jersey during the 2016 Asia Cup. "I have always been a big fan of Dhoni, just like I admired Afridi. When I played for Bangladesh, I batted at No. 7, the same position as Dhoni. He was the best finisher, a role model for any No. 7 batter."

"During the 2016 Asia Cup, I asked him for a jersey as a memory. He later called me to his room, we had a chat, and he gave me his jersey. I asked him for the jersey because he’s a legend."