MS Dhoni humbly declines offer to inaugurate a pavilion named after him at his home ground

The JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, which started hosting international matches in 2013, is the home ground of former Indian captain and veteran batsman MS Dhoni. The Indian wicketkeeper will play his final ODI game at his home ground on March 8. As grounded as he always is, Dhoni declined the offer to inaugurate the pavilion named after him at the JSCA Stadium, ahead of the third ODI against Australia.

Similar to other Indian veteran cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar, who has a stand to his name at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai or like Virender Sehwag has a gate at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi honoured by his name; the very ostentatious Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) International Stadium will have itself graced ‘Mahendra Singh Dhoni Pavilion’.

As of now, the said stadium has hosted one Test match, four ODIs and a couple of T20Is. India have played at least one game across each format against Australia here at Ranchi. However, the only ODI that was scheduled between the two teams at this ground was washed out by rain. The 37-year-old batsman does not have a good record at home though. He has been able to amass just 21 runs at 21.00, in three matches, which includes a highest score of 11.

In terms of wicket-keeping though, MS Dhoni has the highest record of dismissals at this ground in ODI Cricket. The veteran cricketer has seven dismissals which include six catches and one stumping. India move into the 3rd ODI of the ongoing five-match series against Australia with a 2-0 lead. The hosts will look forward to sealing the series in Ranchi, on Friday.

Dhoni politely declines the offer to inaugurate

“At the AGM last year, the decision was taken that the North Block stand that comprises media enclosure, as well as VIP boxes, would be named after Dhoni,” said Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) secretary Debashis Chakraborty. However, Dhoni didn’t agree to inaugurate the stand, said Chakraborty. “We requested him but he said ‘Dada apne hi ghar mein kya inaugurate karna.’ (What’s there to inaugurate in my own house). He is still so humble and down to earth,” Chakraborty was quoted as saying in India Today.

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