Kolkata, Feb 25: A relaxed Mahendra Singh Dhoni, in the twilight of his career, will take fresh guard when he leads his home team Jharkhand against Karnataka in a group D fixture of the Vijay Hazare Trophy at Eden Gardens on Saturday.
Dhoni has relinquished captaincy in all formats whereas in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 he recently faced a shocking ouster from the top-post of Rising Pune Supergiants after Steve Smith was named captain.
Having virtually won all the trophies, Dhoni may not have anything to prove but in his characteristic style he has chosen to lead his home state in the domestic one-dayers and travelled with his teammates in train second class AC, a first for him in 13 years.
For someone who’s used to a raucous cheers from packed stands, Dhoni was back at an empty Eden during practice on the match-eve and there was reunion of sorts of two ‘friends’ as he and Karnataka wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa exchanged a warm affectionate hug.
It was almost 10 years ago they together won inauguaral World Twenty20, that started it all for Dhoni to go on to become the most successful Indian skipper.
The duo had a long chat before Dhoni who was all padded up went in full flow at the nets facing pace and spin bowlers.
