India’s junior female hockey players were in for a surprise as the country’s ODI cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni met them during a practice session at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.
While Dhoni was there for a personal training session ahead of the Indian cricket team’s ODI matches in Bangladesh, the junior hockey players have assembled there for a camp, which began on May 31 and will continue till July 11.
The 48-core probables are part of the coaching camp preparing for the Volvo International U-21 Women’s Tournament in the Netherlands, scheduled from July 18 to July 26.
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“India cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni met the India junior women players on Saturday at the MDC National Stadium during their ongoing preparatory camp for the Volvo International Under-21 Tournament in the Netherlands and the 7th Junior Women’s Asia Cup in China,” Hockey India said in a release.
Dhoni, who quit Test captaincy last year, spent some time with the players, spoke to them about their preparations and wished them luck for the future challenges.
Dhoni’s interest in the game is widely known as he co-owns the Hockey India League (HIL) champions Ranchi Rays.
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Dhoni will lead the Indian cricket team in a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, beginning on Thursday.