Will MS Dhoni host Team India at his Ranchi residence before IND vs SA ODI series

Published - 26 Nov 2025, 19:21 IST | Updated - 26 Nov 2025, 19:54 IST

With Team India arriving in Ranchi for the opening ODI against South Africa on November 30, the city is all set to host an international match after February 2024. However, many have asked, will MS Dhoni host the Indian team at his iconic Ranchi farmhouse once again?

Over the years, Dhoni has invited teammates, whether from India or Chennai Super Kings, whenever an international or IPL match took place in his hometown. Ranchi has often seen the Indian team come together at Dhoni’s house.

But since he retired from international cricket in 2020, it has been a while since the former India captain has hosted the national squad. Now, with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and Dhoni all in the same city for the series opener, the possibility of Dhoni hosting the team once again is already grabbing attention.

However, if Dhoni decides to host the team, the event will likely take place at his seven-acre Ranchi farmhouse. Players who have previously been there often speak highly of the property. Back in the day, Dhoni frequently hosted Team India and later CSK players here. One of the most memorable gatherings came before an India-Australia ODI in 2019, when the entire squad spent an evening at Dhoni’s home.

Meanwhile, Kohli landed in Ranchi on Wednesday morning and was spotted exiting the airport. The 37-year-old returned from London on Tuesday after being named in India’s squad for the three-match ODI series. The last time India played in Ranchi was in 2024 during the Test series against England, but he missed the game due to the birth of his second child, Akaay. Notably, with Kohli already in town, the other squad members are expected to join soon.

Chahar reveals Dhoni's rare angry moment during IPL 2019

Even as speculation grows about whether he will host the team, MS Dhoni himself has been extremely active at the JSCA Stadium. According to reports, he has been putting in four-and-a-half-hour training shifts, including gym sessions, power-hitting drills, and match simulations ahead of IPL 2026.

With CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirming Dhoni’s participation in IPL 2026, the legendary captain is preparing for what could be his final season. The 44-year-old is set to become the second-oldest player to feature in the IPL. This will be Dhoni’s 17th season for CSK and 19th overall, having been part of the IPL since its inception. CSK recently traded Sanju Samson, which could ease Dhoni’s workload behind the stumps.