Twitter erupts in delight as MS Dhoni returns to lead India against Afghanistan

Team India has managed to surprise and shock everyone with their team selection for their inconsequential game against Afghanistan. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan both have been rested and to everyone’s surprise, MS Dhoni has returned to lead the side for the 200th time in the One-Day Internationals. The sparse crowd roared and welcomed back the veteran at the helm when he walked out for the toss at the Dubai International Stadium.

Apart from Rohit and Dhawan, the Men in Blue have also rested Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar ahead of the mega final of the Asia Cup which will be played on Friday. However, this opportunity has presented MS Dhoni to lead the Indian team once again and it has also completed the milestone for him in the ODIs.

He has been the best captain for India over the years as the team has won all the three ICC trophies under his tutelage and all the eyes will be on him today as he takes the reins back albeit only for a day.

Afghanistan opt to bat first

As far as the toss is concerned, Afghanistan have opted to bat first after winning the toss and Asghar Afghan, their skipper, was keen on playing to their strength of defending the total. They have been already knocked out of the tournament but would be itching to make an upset in the tournament by beating India before bowing out of the competition.

Deepak Chahar, however, has been handed over his ODI debut and Siddarth Kaul also returns to the side as Khaleel Ahmed will take over the new ball duties it seems. The likes of Manish Pandey and KL Rahul have also got a game after warming the bench for the whole tournament and they will be tested today against the strong Afghanistan bowling line-up who bank on their spinners.

Meanwhile, Twitter was delighted to see MS Dhoni and flooded the social media platforms with welcome back messages.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

I thought I'd meet my friends and skip today's match, but destiny had other plans.

I'll instead see MS Dhoni captain again, after a year and a half, in his 200th ODI. Palms sweating. Pulses increasing. Body fidgeting.#INDvAFG #MSDhoni

— Kaustubh Mayekar (@ThatInnerVoice_) September 25, 2018

MS Dhoni completes 200 ODIs as India captain, rather reluctantly.

199 was so much more romantic & personified Dhoni better #INDvAFG

— Pushkar Kulkarni (@pushkar_18) September 25, 2018

MS Dhoni is leading India for the 200th time.

"It's destiny. Good to complete 200 ODIs," says #Dhoni #AsiaCup2018 #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/9pqUjwil0g

— Krishna Raj (@rajkrishna52) September 25, 2018

MS Dhoni is doing captaincy for team India after 29th October 2016! What a surprise for MS Dhoni fans! #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/IpxNpjTVjc

— Prashant Pareek (@prashan23S) September 25, 2018

MS Dhoni is captaining the Indian team today! 😍😭

To captain the ODI team for 200th time! 👏🏼👏🏼#AsiaCup2018 #AsiaCup #INDvAFG #MSD pic.twitter.com/GhupnRBeBp

— Utkarsh Verma (@utkarshv13) September 25, 2018

MS Dhoni to captain India after 696 days, his 200th ODI as captain #INDvAFG #Dhoni 😍💙 pic.twitter.com/z7gQ7flTUP

— Rishi balaji (@rishibalaji97) September 25, 2018

MS Dhoni as Captain:
Oct 2016: 199th ODI
Sep 2018: 200th ODI

Goosebump moment when he walked on the field for the toss ❤️💛

Also becomes the first Asian to lead a team for 200 ODI💯🔥#Thala #Mahi #CricketMeriJaan #AsiaCup2018 #INDvAFG #Forever7

— Neel Patel (@NeelPatel189) September 25, 2018

Such a delight to see MS Dhoni as a captain…#INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/JH9Fdl3Oyz

— Kishore Bardhan (@KishoreBardhan) September 25, 2018

1 sort of 200 but he resigned!!

But Destiny had others idea!!

Today he returns & he completing this!!

200th ODI match for Ms Dhoni as a Captain!!

This is the best feeling ever!! 💖💗#AsiaCup2018 #INDvAFG #MSDhoni @msdhoni @ChennaiIPL pic.twitter.com/iqPlUv6KZc

— Sanjay Msd (@SanjayMsd07) September 25, 2018

MS Dhoni is the CAPTAIN!!!!! Miracles do happen 🙌
Itni khushi Allah, now I can die in peace. ♥️ #INDvAFG

— YAAAAAAS QUEEN!! (@Gracious_Gal) September 25, 2018

Afghanistan Won The Toss. Opted To Bat.

MS Dhoni Is Captain Today. After 2 Years. His 200th ODI As Captain

Manish Pandey Comes In For Rohit Sharma. Debut For Deepak Chahar

"All Players Who Are In Squad & Didn't Get Chance, Will Get Today"- #Dhoni #INDvAFG #INDvsAFG #AFGvIND pic.twitter.com/U9h6vnGTJY

— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) September 25, 2018

You got hundreds of reason to hate Rohit..
We've got millions of em to LOVE HIM 😭😭❤❤
Thank you Rohit for this 💕#INDvAFG #Asiacup2018
MS Dhoni 200th ODI

— S H U B H A M 💙♥ (@ShubhamK_45) September 25, 2018

This is @msdhoni's 200th ODI as a captain for @BCCI.

Most ODIs as a captain:

230 – Ricky Ponting
218 – Stephen Fleming
200 – MS DHONI*#INDvAFG #AsiaCup2018

— T.S.Suresh (@editorsuresh) September 25, 2018

Superb.
They knew this match would be watched by very few people, hence they brought back MS Dhoni as captain to attract the viewers.#INDvAFG #AsiaCup2018

— Sanchit 🔴⚪️ (@sanchitd43) September 25, 2018

Good to see MS Dhoni back as the captain to complete his double hundred. #AsiaCup2018 pic.twitter.com/a31U64djFq

— Shubham Hudda (@ImHudda) September 25, 2018

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