There is no doubt regarding the fact that the former Indian skipper, MS Dhoni enjoys an immense amount of love wherever he goes. Recently, he got a rousing welcome when he walked out to bat during India’s first T20I of the two-match series against Australia at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vizag.

Dhoni has fond memories of this ground, it happens to be the same venue where he scored his maiden international century as he played a blistering knock of 148 against Pakistan got the whole world talking about the long-haired rockstar. He may have become a global name but for the fans, he still remains the same; the humble next-door man. Fans at the stadium went berserk on watching him come out to bat.

Former Indian skipper is not alien to such receptions, he gets the same treatment even in Australia, England or South Africa. He is probably the most popular cricketer of our times.

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Here is the deafening noise Vizag fans make on watching their hero walk out in the middle.

https://twitter.com/Amar791849/status/1099914774882611200

Meanwhile, it was Dhoni’s 37-ball 29 that gave Indian bowlers something to bowl at. His strike rate of 78.37 is the second-lowest by an India batsman in a T20I knock of more than 35 balls. The top order apart from KL Rahul failed to get going on a slow Vizag pitch.

One has to acknowledge that India fought well to make a match out of it. The total of India 126 never looked good enough to challenge the Australians, but the Indians were disciplined in the field and with the ball apart from that forgettable last over. India will host Australia in the last T20I on February 27 and would be looking to level the series.