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Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni is idolised by many budding and established cricketers. Everyone wants to pick Dhoni’s brain and learn a thing or two. As Hardik Pandya-led India arrived in Ranchi for the first of three-T20I series against New Zealand, Dhoni decided to surprise them as he met them at JSCA International Stadium Complex on January 26.
BCCI posted a video on Republic Day of Dhoni interacted with skipper Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav and others while he had coconut water in his hands.
Nowadays Dhoni comes to JSCA regularly as he is gearing up for the upcoming season of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. The CSK skipper will look to lead the franchise to their fifth title win after a disappointing season last year where Ravindra Jadeja was removed from captaincy midway.
In the pre-match press conference on the eve of first T20I, Pandya was asked about the interaction with the legendary Indian skipper to which he replied, "Mahi bhai is here which is good as we get to meet him. We can get out of the hotel also (to meet him). Otherwise, the way we have played in the last one month, it has just been hotel to hotel.”
The all-rounder also revealed that he does not talk about cricket with Dhoni when he meets him now.
"And when we meet we try to talk about life rather than the game. When we played together I learnt a lot from him. I have squeezed a lot out of him (knowledge)... there is not much left," the 29-year-old added.
Before the first T20I, Ruturaj Gaikwad got ruled out of due to wrist injury. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to name his replacement. Pandya also confirmed that Shubman Gill will be picked as opener ahead of Prithvi Shaw in the first T20I against second-string Mitchell Santner-led side.
