Shubman Gill speaks on MS Dhoni's influence ahead of India's Test vs England in Ranchi
Published - 22 Feb 2024, 01:16 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 10:26 AM
Young Team India batter Shubman Gill paid a heartfelt tribute to legendary cricketer MS Dhoni ahead of the fourth Test against England in Ranchi. Shubman Gill expressed that the entire nation still deeply misses MS Dhoni, regardless of the venue of the match.
The fourth Test between India and England will kick off on Friday, February 23 at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Dhoni’s hometown of Ranchi. The home team took a crucial 2-1 lead in the ongoing five-match series following a 434-run victory in Rajkot.
Shubman Gill is the second-highest run scorer for India in the ongoing series behind Yashasvi Jaiswal. The right-handed batsman has scored 252 runs in six innings at an average of 42. He scored 104 runs in India’s victory during the second Test in Visakhapatnam.
Whole Of India Misses MS Dhoni A Lot – Shubman Gill
Speaking to reporters days before the 4th Test in Ranchi, Shubman Gill was asked about MS Dhoni, given that the match would be held in his hometown.
“The whole of India misses Mahi bhai a lot. It doesn’t matter where you play, in Ranchi or anywhere else,” Gill told reporters.
“The entire India misses Mahi bhai. It does not matter where we play, in Ranchi or anywhere in the world”
– Shubman Gill pic.twitter.com/SbN6bSp7Da
— ` (@WorshipDhoni) February 21, 2024
MS Dhoni was present at the stadium during India’s Test match victory against South Africa in Ranchi. The former Indian skipper was seen talking with Shahbaz Nadeem before the match. Later, Dhoni posed with former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri for a photo.
The 42-year-old retired from all formats of international cricket in 2020. The wicketkeeper-batsman will next be seen in action during the Indian Premier League (IPL). He led the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a record-equalling fifth IPL title in the previous edition.
Will Try To Meet Mahi bhai In Ranchi – Dhruv Jurel
Dhruv Jurel reminisced about his memorable encounter with MS Dhoni. Jurel expressed his awe at meeting Dhoni for the first time and receiving valuable advice from him during the IPL. Jurel hopes to meet Dhoni during the fourth Test in Ranchi.
“I was just watching him and stood up, like ‘is this MS Dhoni standing in front of me’. That was the first time I interacted with MS Dhoni, so I was just pinching myself, ‘Is this a dream?’ I met him in 2021, I guess, my first year of IPL. I asked him, ‘can I have one photo with you’ and we clicked a photo. He gave me one advice — just go out, watch the ball and play.”
“It is always my dream to meet Mahi bhai. The last I met him was in IPL, but I wanted to meet him in India jersey. Whenever I spoke to him, I got to learn some things and that helped a lot in my cricket. I will try to meet Mahi bhai in Ranchi and talk to him,” Jurel added.
The 23-year-old showcased his talent in his remarkable Test debut in Rajkot. He scored 46 runs with the bat but also demonstrated his fielding prowess with a brilliant run-out of Ben Duckett.
Also read: MS Dhoni finally reveals why he didn’t sign up as a marquee player ahead of IPL 2008
