09 March,2017 05:10 PM IST | | mid-day online correspondent
Former India skipper MS Dhoni's commitment to the game and Jharkhand is proved by his surprise visit to the Ranchi stadium to inspect the preparations for the 3rd India vs Australia Test match
MS Dhoni inspecting Ranchi pitch proves his love for cricket and Jharkhand
Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni may not be part of the national team for the longer format of tha game, but he's still involved. He's also very committed and actively connected to the Jharkhand State Cricket Association.
And this commitment of Dhoni's became apparent on Thursday. Ranchi was accorded Test status last November and it will host it's first Test soon.
After leading his Jharkhand team into the knockouts of the 2017 Vijay Hazare Trophy, MSD and his boys reached Ranchi earlier on Thursday. Mahi didn't waste any time and immediately made a surprise visit to the Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium (JSCA) which will host its maiden Test in less than 10 days' time.
Dhoni had a discussion with the curator as he inspected all the preparations for the crucial game.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni waves at fans from his SUV after being spotted outside Ranchi's Birsa Munda airport on Tuesday. Pic/PTI
Jharkhand team sources had earlier said the Ranji captain would head to Bengaluru for the BCCI Awards from Kolkata but headed home and spent time in the stadium.
Curator SB Singh, however, termed it as a routine visit and said it had nothing to do with the upcoming third Test from March 16-20.
"When he's here, he often visits the stadium for fitness work out and spends long time at the gym. Today was no different. He also saw the wicket and we had an informal discussion. This is not unusual for me," Singh told PTI.
A female fan stands in front of cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni's SUV after spotting him outside Ranchi's Birsa Munda airport on Tuesday. Pic/PTI
"He has never intervened in pitch preparation in the last four years. Being such a great player, I always look forward to his inputs on the quality of wicket."
The JSCA has prepared three wickets -- pitch number four, five and seven -- for its debut Test and Singh said all of them will last the distance.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni with his dog at his residence in Ranchi on Thursday. Pic/PTI
"Each of them will behave differently. The team will choose the strip two days before the match. The pitch will suit both the batsmen and bowlers and will definitely last five days," Singh said.
