Ranchi boys await MS Dhoni ton at home

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The Jharkhand Ranji team players are pinning their hopes on Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to deliver on his home turf and score a century at the brand new JSCA International Cricket Stadium in Ranchi on Saturday.

Given the nature of the pitch at the sprawling stadium, several state Ranji players are confident that Ranchi boy Dhoni will hit a century against the visiting England team and set a record in his hometown.

"The nature of the pitch (at JSCA International stadium) will suit Dhoni Sir's style of batting and we are confident that he will score a century and surpass his highest against England in Jharkhand," Jharkhand skipper, leg-spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, said.

In the match against England at the Keenan Stadium on April 12, 2006, the last ODI played in Jharkhand, Dhoni's 106-ball 96 - which included 10 fours and three sixes - won the hearts of cricket lovers.

Twenty-three-year-old spinner Sunny Gupta, who is also a member of the Jharkhand Ranji team, said the flat pitch and the open outfield at the JSCA is conducive for a batsman like Dhoni to put up a big score.

"I am confident that Dhoni bhaiiya will not only score a ton but will also surpass his highest ODI score of 183 (against Sri Lanka in 2005) in this match against the Englishmen," said Gupta.

The two senior Ranji players are of the opinion that Dhoni, who has been in fine form in Odis of late, can score big playing on a flat pitch like the one in Ranchi. "The helicopter shot is what we are all waiting to watch," said Gupta.


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