India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday said the new stadium has put Ranchi on the international map with the hosting of the third ODI between India and England on Saturday.
Speaking at the inauguration of the new complex by the Jharkhand Governor Syed Ahmed, Dhoni said the infrastructure was the pride of the state.
“When I first joined the Indian team people kept asking me where I was from. I used to say, I am from India… from a place called Ranchi in Jharkhand.”
He said he had had to explain where Ranchi was and mention landmarks like “a place close to Kolkata”.
“Now, with the new stadium, Ranchi had become an international venue, he said.
Proud moment
“It is a proud beginning; proud moment for the people of Jharkhand. I would like to thank each and everyone who has contributed to the making of the stadium. Now it’s up to the people of Jharkhand to make tomorrow’s game very special,” he said.
Special day
Overwhelmed by the occasion, Dhoni said, “personally, it’s a special day for me. The journey begins tomorrow. It’s the start of a new innings.”
Among those present were BCCI president N. Srinivasan, ECB chairman Giles Clarke, almost the entire Indian team, and the ‘who’s who’ of Jharkhand cricket and important political figures.
The programme opened with a tribal dance. On request, the India captain played the traditional tribal drum to the amusement of all spectators.
