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Tickets please! Dhoni boards overnight train

Former India captain catches public transport with teammates for domestic 50-over match in Kolkata

MS Dhoni’s cricket career looks to have come full circle after the India great and former railway ticket collector caught a packed overnight train with teammates to play a domestic one-day game.

Dhoni, who ascended from humble beginnings to become one of the finest wicketkeepers India has produced, left his Hummer in the driveway and boarded a train with the of the rest of the Jharkhand squad travelling to Kolkata.

The former India captain, who is captaining Jharkhand in India’s domestic 50-over tournament, posted a ‘selfie’ with other players on the Hatia-Ranchi-Howrah Express.


While the team was a little hesitant of putting one of the most recognisable Indians on a busy overnight train, Dhoni insisted he travel with his teammates.

“Our state association was a bit iffy about Dhoni going to Kolkata by train. We suggested him to take a flight,” Jharkhand team manager PN Singh told The Indian Express.

“But he refused. In fact, he said, ‘it’s better to take a train’. 

“He came to the station in the team bus. He said, ‘when I’m the captain, I must travel with the team’.” 

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While star-struck onlookers were taken aback by a national hero taking the overnight journey, Dhoni’s voyage went by without a hitch, though commuters who’d gotten word of the trip crowded train stations along the way hoping for a glimpse of him.

Virat Kohli took over as national skipper in all three formats in January after Dhoni stood down from the captaincy of India’s one-day and T20 sides.

He’s vowed to play on for India in limited-overs formats.

Following India’s exit from the World T20 on home soil last year, Dhoni was asked whether he was keen on playing on having achieved practically everything in the sport.

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In not so many words, Dhoni said he intended to play on until the 2019 World Cup. 

Dhoni is expected to play in June’s Champions Trophy in England, where India hope to defend the title they won under his leadership four years ago,

Jharkhand face Karnataka in their Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament-opener on Saturday at Eden Gardens.