MS Dhoni’s status in world cricket is untouchable: the only captain to win all three ICC trophies, a match-winner with a calm brain and a knack for reading pressure. Though he retired from international cricket, Dhoni remains a living legend in the IPL — still fit, still sharp, and still a fascinating study in how to marry experience with simplicity. That combination came through again when he sat down with broadcaster Jatin Sapru at a recent Mahi Unplugged event, where Dhoni spoke about life, choices and why he has never left Ranchi.
The conversation was telling because it peeled back the obvious public persona and showed Dhoni’s deliberate, small-city mindset. Sapru teased him a little — arguably taking a light dig in the direction of modern players who relocate to global cities — asking why Dhoni never moved to a metro like many cricketers do. Dhoni’s answer was classic Mahi: practical, personal and oddly refreshing in its simplicity.
He recalled an early senior’s off-handed suggestion: “When are you moving out of Ranchi?” That question stuck with him. Dhoni explained that he weighed it seriously at the time and found nothing compelling enough to leave. “Why should I move?” he asked back, noting the city’s convenience and connectivity. “It is well connected. We have an airport, there are few flights that take me to Delhi and Mumbai. And if I need to go anywhere, I can go from there; it’s very well connected by train also.”
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Beyond logistics, Dhoni spoke about the emotional geography of Ranchi — the colony he grew up in, with a self-contained community, a hospital, a hall that screened movies, a library, and local grounds. Those early infrastructures, he said, gave him a sense of belonging and stability
. Once cricket opened the world to him, he still explored Ranchi more and found reasons to stay. “I have very fond memories of Ranchi,” he said, smiling at the idea that two decades later he’s still in the same place.
Jatin sapru indirectly took a dig at virat kohli in the very first question asked to Ms dhoni 😭 pic.twitter.com/56cL5knO7C
— ADITYA (@wXtreme18) February 4, 2026
There’s a quality to that choice that resonates with his leadership style: unflashy, rooted and consistent. He described small freedoms that matter—being able to go home ten times a day if he wanted to, something impossible on the metro. That image captures why he values normalcy: quick rides on his bike, an evening in a local park, low-key dinners — routines that recharge rather than complicate life.
Dhoni’s preference for Ranchi also highlights a generational difference in modern cricket. Young stars now chase global opportunities, multiple homes and international life choices. Dhoni, by contrast, chooses rhythm over glamour. He remains an IPL regular, but his anchor point is hometown simplicity, and that is as much a part of his brand as his stump-melting finishes or tactical genius.
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In the end, the Mahi Unplugged chat was less about where Dhoni lives and more about why. For him, Ranchi is not an absence of ambition but a deliberate lifestyle choice — one that keeps the legend grounded, available and, crucially, unhurried. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most powerful decisions are the most ordinary ones.
