India will take on South Africa in the first ODI of the three-match series on Sunday, November 30. The match will be played at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi. Ahead of the game, stand-in captain KL Rahul confirmed that MS Dhoni will be present in the stands. The match will be played in Dhoni’s hometown.
India are looking to make a strong comeback in the ODI series. The team recently lost the Test series 2-0 against South Africa. The defeat raised many concerns about the team’s form. Now, the focus shifts to the ODI format.
With Shubman Gill ruled out due to injury, KL Rahul has been given the captaincy responsibility. Senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have returned to the ODI side. Their return has boosted the team’s confidence ahead of the series.
MS Dhoni’s Presence to Boost Crowd and Players in IND vs SA 1st ODI in Ranchi
A few days before the match, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Ruturaj Gaikwad visited MS Dhoni at his home for a special dinner. The meeting became even more special when Dhoni personally drove Kohli back to the team hotel. The reunion created a lot of excitement among fans.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, KL Rahul shared his feelings about Dhoni’s presence. He said,
“Obviously, we have all played under him. We have all been his fans, and we have also played alongside him. So he is a friend. And to know someone like MS, you know, what can I say it’s a really happy feeling. Getting an opportunity like this, to know someone as big and as successful as him as an Indian cricketer we have all respected him as a human being as well,” Rahul said in the pre-match press conference.
Rahul added that Dhoni watching from the stands will make the occasion even more special.
“So if he comes to watch the match, the excitement for the crowd and for us will increase even more. So yes, we’re happy. If the crowd turns up in big numbers, we will also enjoy playing here. And hopefully, we can win the game, put in a good performance, entertain the crowd, and MS Dhoni will also feel happy that we won,” he added.
With Dhoni in the stands and senior players back in the team, fans are expecting an exciting start to the ODI series.
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