MS Dhoni has a huge fascination for dogs, and that is one of the reasons he feels the Maharashtra Cricket Association in Gahunje, Pune, is special for him.
The Indian cricket team will start their three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, and the 1st T20 match takes place at the MCA International Stadium, Pune. Ahead of their encounter, the Indian limited-overs cricket captain explained that apart from the good wicket conditions in the ground, it is the presence of dogs that makes the place all the more special.
The stadium, which was inaugurated in April 2012, provides shelter to around two dozen dogs of different breed, and Dhoni can't be more happy about this. "It has been a special ground. I am fond of dogs and there are a lot of dogs at this ground," Dhoni was quoted by the Press Trust of India.
On the ground conditions, the 2011 Indian World Cup winning captain assured that there won't be too many problems as the wicket is more or less settled.
"The wicket here is a bit more settled now. It's not a very big ground, it's a decent-sized ground and the straight boundaries are not very long. Though it's a bit away from the city, the crowds come in big numbers and are also very supportive," Dhoni, who will return to the venue once again in IPL 2016 for the home matches of Rising Pune Supergiants, explained.
Indian Test cricket captain Virat Kohli has been rested for the India vs Sri Lanka T20 series, but the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, as well as the most expensive Indian player in the IPL 2016 Player Auction, Pawan Negi, will be seen in action.
