Dhoni Refuses To Inaugurate Pavilion In Ranchi Stadium

Image Source : NDTV Sports

The third ODI between India and Australia will be played in the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. The stadium first hosted an international match in 2013. It is the home ground of veteran and former Indian skipper MS Dhoni.

Dhoni will play for the last time at his home ground on March 8. Even after a fabulous international career, Dhoni’s feet are still grounded. The organizers of the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi wanted to inaugurate a pavilion named after Dhoni before the third ODI. They wanted the veteran himself to inaugurate it. But Dhoni has politely declined the offer.

Former veteran cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar or Virender Sehwag has also been honored in this way. Gavaskar has a stand to his name in Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Sehwag has a gate honored to his name at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. Likewise JSCA Stadium will have their own ‘Mahendra Singh Dhoni Pavilion’.

The JSCA Stadium has so far hosted one Test, four ODIs and two T20Is. India and Australia have played at least one game across each format in this ground. However the ODI match between these two teams was washed out by rain.

With the bat, Dhoni does not have a good record in his home ground. He has scored just 21 runs at 21.00 from three games. His highest score in this stadium is 11. However behind the stumps, he has the highest record of dismissals. He has seven dismissals to his name which include six catches and one stumping.

More Articles Related To Cricket:

Dhoni politely declines the offer

In a recent interview to India Today, JSCA secretary Debashis Chakraborty cleared the matter. He said, “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.”

However Chakraborty said that Dhoni didn’t agree to inaugurate the stand. “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,” said Chakraborty.

India will play the 3rd ODI in the five-match ODI series against Australia on March 8. The Men in Blue are already leading by 2-0. They will now look to win the game and seal the series in Ranchi itself.