Dhoni Drives Kohli Through Ranchi Streets; Fans Call It Moment of the Year

An unscheduled break from preparations came to the Indian national squad just a day before the three-match ODI series against South Africa when a few players visited MS Dhoni’s Ranchi home for a small but lively reunion on Thursday.

Kohli, Pant, and Gaikwad were the earliest guests, so what was expected to be an uneventful visit turned into one of the most famous moments preceding the Sunday match at the JSCA International Stadium.

The once again familiar duo of Kohli and Dhoni instantly captured the attention of the public as soon as pictures came out on the net which showed them meeting at the gate of Dhoni's house. The pairing that weaved their on-field stories—the Kohli who raised under Dhoni's wing and the Dhoni who claimed the hardest of Kohli's games—was again in the public imagination the very moment the visuals went round.

A short video clip of Dhoni taking Kohli through Ranchi soon became the talk of social media, as fans standing at the curb were capturing the two of them as they passed. The clip went viral very quickly, leading many to proclaim it the highlight of India's pre-series week.

Pant and Gaikwad also went over to Dhoni’s place, which had become a routine by now whenever the national team played in Dhoni’s native town. Pant, who frequently mentions Dhoni’s mentoring as a calming factor, entered with his colleagues, while Gaikwad seemed comfortable with his IPL captain from the Chennai Super Kings setup.

The informal meeting took place at the very start of India's major change. KL Rahul is captain of the ODI squad while Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer are absent, and the team wants to get back on track after the Test series that was not good for them. Kohli's return to the ODI team brings hopes of a strong batting order, and his visit to Ranchi, although private, added to the feeling of the team being united.

The players had come to the city at the beginning of the week and their stopover was a very short break from their routines. By the afternoon, a large number of people were waiting outside Dhoni's house as the players were going in and out with the fans cheering them. The nostalgic and festive vibe continued to be the main topic of conversation all day.

With the first game being played in Dhoni's hometown, the unplanned meeting of the two players added an emotional aspect to India's preparation. The image of Dhoni driving Kohli around the city made fans feel a part of the moment and helped the team atmosphere rejuvenate.

The thumping at the door of the fans has been given by this sudden and unexpected association between India and South Africa in a venue that is almost synonymous with Dhoni. A fresh storyline has been carved out for the fans, one that is intertwined with connection, timing and the shared past of some of the most significant players in Indian cricket.