A star was born at the ACA-VDCA stadium in the city on April 5, 2005. On that day M.S. Dhoni slammed 148 off 123 balls and helped India clinch a 58-run win over archrivals Pakistan in an ODI match. MSD immediately shot into big league of international cricket with this first big innings. Since then Vizag continues to be his favourite hunting ground. Incidentally, MSD played his last match in Vizag as Indian captain, against New Zealand in the decider of five-match series on the eve of Deepavali in October 2016.
What made Vizag people to like Dhoni was the fact that quite often he said the City of Destiny was his favourite place. MSD in most of the post-match briefings here said: “I started here. This is the place where I began. I have fond memories at the venue. It is surely one of my favourite hunting grounds.”
Surely Dhoni has a special connection with Vizag, says D.V.V.S. Somayajulu, ACA president. His simple and down-to-earth personality floored Vizagites and he hailed from a middleclass background and rose to the highest level in the cricket, said Mr.. Somayajulu. Dhoni has high opinion about ground, pitch and infrastructure facilities at ACA-VDCA stadium, he said. MSD has been a role model for not only aspiring cricketers but also to all those who want to be successful in their lives. He came out with flying colours even in pressure situations. “We did'nt have an iota of inclination that Dhoni would step down as skipper when he played the match against New Zealand. No doubt he has been a wonderful captain and led the team from the front,” he said.
Dhoni has played a role in choosing Vizag as home ground for Pune Warriors after IPL matches were shifted from Maharashtra, Mr. Somayajulu recalled.
Dhoni tweeted in last February “Vizag, one of the cities, that I would love to live in, nice and beautiful landscape with beach and home to my first big innings”. It reflected his love for the city. The tweet prompted his fans from Ranchi to say “Dhoni bhai mat chodo Ranchi (Dhoni don’t leave Ranch).”
K. Rajesh, vivid cricket follower and big fan of Dhoni, said he watched all the matches that MSD played at the ACA-VDCA stadium. He said he enjoyed every moment of MSD on the ground as his mere presence send the crowd into raptures in the stadium. Rajesh hoped though Dhoni stepped down as skipper he would continue to play for ODIs and IPL matches.
Former Test umpire K. Parthasarathy said Dhoni was a great inspiration for many cricketers and fans. He never belied their expectations. The last IPL match he played in Vizag was a memorable one as he finished the innings with sixes of two-balls to score a pulsating victory for Pune Warriors. Dhoni has the rare distinction of winning World Cups in all formats of the game, 50-overs T20 and Champions Trophy.
G.J.J. Raju, ACA vice-president, said Dhoni was inspiration to many across the country and so for players in ACA Academy. “Dhoni has been a real wonder. Hailing from a small place like Ranchi he succeeded to reach pinnacle of the game which very few can achieve,” he said. Mr. Raju said people of Vizag owned Dhoni since on several occasions he revealed his true love for the city.
Mr. Raju said Dhoni would definitely continue to play and Vizagites will get a chance to witness his heroics on the ground.
