One of the most loved and scrutinised cricketers to have ever been born in India - Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the perfect story for every small town boy/girl who wants to make it big in life. Hailing from the cricketing backwaters - Jharkhand, Dhoni is unarguably the second most popular player in the cricket frenzy nation after 'God' Sachin Tendulkar. Going by the statistics, Dhoni is India's most successful captain and under his leadership, India have won the top prize in all formats of the gentlemen's game - the inaugural World Twenty20 on his captaincy debut in 2007, No.1 Test ranking for 18 months starting December 2009, and the 50-over World Cup in 2011 in Mumbai. He is also the first captain in the world to win three different ICC trophies. Dhoni also led India to a memorable 2013 Champions Trophy triumph in England. During his now more than 14-years long international career, Dhoni has played an integral part in many of India's famous victories. For his impressive match-winning skills, the veteran batsman has also been christened with the tag of 'one of the best finishers in the sport', especially in the limited-overs format. However, with age catching up - Dhoni's batting abilities are on the wane but his electric reflexes and impeccable instincts behind the stumps still make him an indispensable asset to Team India. With the countdown of the 2019 ICC World Cup already started, India still needs the services of one of its biggest stalwarts who is responsible for taking the team to insurmountable heights.
Read MoreDhoni slammed an unbeaten 55 off 54 balls after Kohli laid the foundation for India's series-levelling six-wicket victory over Australia in the second ODI with a fluent century.
MS Dhoni smashed two sixes in his 54-ball 55 not out in Adelaide to help India level the three-match series 1-1.
Chase master Kohli could not take his team to the finishing line this time but Dhoni (55 off 54) and Dinesh Karthik (25 off 14) rose to the occasion to win the match by 6 wickets.
Dhoni averages 52.95 while batting at number four, which is higher than his current career-average of 50.11 over 333 games.
Kohli along with Shami, Chahal, Karthik, Dhoni and coach Shastri were seen practising at the nets ahead of India's 2nd ODI against Australia.
The video also shows Sushant following Dhoni to his dressing room, and almost to the washroom as well as donning the same clothes.
Rohit said that the former captain was ready to bat anywhere for the team.
India vice-captain Rohit Sharma said that according to him, MS Dhoni is India's ideal No.4 in ODIs.
Jhye Richardson, who took 4/26 on Saturday in the first ODI against India in Sydney, said that the game could have gone away from Australia if MS Dhoni was not given out at that moment.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the fifth Indian and 13th overall to score 10000 runs in ODI cricket.
After winning a historic Test series a few days ago, India aim to repeat the performance under the lights with the white ball.
This could well be the last time Dhoni is touring the country as an Indian cricketer.
Dhoni's much-vaunted finishing skills are under scrutiny but Rohit said the former captain has it in him to continue being useful with the bat.
Pant's flamboyant batting exploits, however, have impressed Engineer so much that he wondered how the Indian selectors can afford to leave him out for the 2019 World Cup.
MS Dhoni, along with other white-ball specialists including Dhawan, Rohit, Rayudu, Jadhav, Chahal, Karthik and Khaleel, have joined up with the Indian team.
The first match of the three-match ODI series will be played on January 12 at Sydney Cricket Ground.
"Celebrations are going to run long into the night I can assure you," said Kohli
Ponting believes Pant will score more Test centuries than his predecessor Dhoni.
India buried a dispirited Australia under a mountain of runs with Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja adding a dash of strokeful aggression on Day 2 of the final Test.
Kohli took over as India's Test captain four years ago at the same venue after MS Dhoni's shock retirement.
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