Stand-in captain KL Rahul has stated that MS Dhoni will attend the series opener in his hometown as India prepares to play South Africa in the first ODI of the three-match series on Sunday, November 30 at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi.
After a humiliating 2-0 Test loss to South Africa, the Men in Blue are looking to improve going into the ODI series. Rahul has been given captaincy duties because Shubman Gill was ruled out due to injury. In the meanwhile, seasoned hitters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are back in the format.
A few days prior to the match, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rishabh Pant, and Kohli went to Dhoni’s house for supper. When Dhoni personally drove Kohli back to the team hotel, the reunion got even more special. Rahul disclosed prior to the game that Dhoni will be watching the action from the stands.
We had all played under him, of course. In addition to being his fans, we have all performed with him. He is therefore a friend. And what can I say, knowing someone like MS is a truly joyful experience. Rahul stated during the pre-match press conference, “We have all respected him as a human being as well. Getting an opportunity like this, to know someone as big and as successful as an Indian cricketer.”
Both the audience and ourselves will become even more excited: KL Rahul
Rahul went on to say that both the players and the audience would be more excited if the renowned captain was there in the stands. He added that Dhoni and the supporters would be overjoyed if the team won.
“There will be even more excitement for the crowd and for us if he arrives to see the match. Yes, we are content. We will also appreciate playing here if a large crowd shows up. And ideally, we can win the match, perform well, and amuse the audience. MS Dhoni would also be pleased that we prevailed,” he continued.
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