Last time Mahendra Singh Dhoni missed a One-Day International match due to injury or illness was some six years against Sri Lanka during 2013 Tri-Series in the West Indies. On Monday, the former Indian captain was forced to sit out of the third ODI match against New Zealand due to a "sore hamstring".
The 37-year-old has resurrected his career with some match-winning knocks in the recent engagements in Australia, and the first two matches of the ongoing series in New Zealand. For many fans, it was an unexpected news considering how the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman was back to his usual best, both with the gloves and also with the bat.
Dhoni is known as one of the fittest players, and he had missed only five ODI matches in the last 14 years before today – three matches (2013) due to a hamstring injury and one each against Ireland and South Africa in Ireland (2007) due to viral fever.
And expected fans took to social media platforms to share their surprise. Here are some reactions:
MS Dhoni was the Man of the series vs Aus, and is now having equal runs with Kohli in the series 241 runs!!
— M S D ⤠(@Vidyadhar_R) January 28, 2019
__________________________________
Wokeup and Saw : "DHONI IS INJURED"
No MSD
— Mahendra Singh Dhoni (@Ansh_MSDian) January 28, 2019
From excitement Of 100% to now 0% #NZvIND
It's been a while I have seen MS Dhoni ruled out of the match due to an injury or hamstring. #NZvIND #TeamIndia #MSDhoni #INDvNZ ð®ð³
— Feroz Hussain (@ferozhussain_) January 28, 2019
MS Dhoni out with an injury! Never heard or thought will ever hear that given his epitome level of fitness!
— Dr Amay Yeravdekar (@YeravdekarAmay) January 28, 2019
Pandya back after the fiasco!
Come on ð®ð³
Bleed Blue! Jai Ho!
Dhoni ko q nHi 11 me liyað¡ð¡ð¡ð¡ð¡ð¡ pic.twitter.com/LV6IYpJ4Ox
— Md Reyaz (@MdReyaz83551452) January 28, 2019
No Dhoni, No more to watch match today. Let's ð Dhoni to be playing next match and get well soon. ðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂð lots of love Dhoni. @IPL @ChennaiIPL @imVkohli @RaviShastriOfc
— Expounder -Boxoffice, Cricket & TV shows (@Pappu03951480) January 28, 2019
MSD Didn't skip any of the practice Sessions it's strange he had a injury over the night #NZvIND
— Mahendra Singh Dhoni (@Ansh_MSDian) January 28, 2019
No Dhoni ð and #HardikPandya ji ki ghar wapsi ð¤ #INDvsNZ
— H. Kaur (@Harneet02) January 28, 2019
Dhoni won the man of the series award in the three-match ODI series in Australia, his first in almost eight years. He scored three fifties (51, 55 not out and 87 not out) against the Aussies.
Continuing his good form, Dhoni scored yet another unbeaten 48 in the second ODI against the Kiwis on Saturday. He did not get the chance to bat in the series opener but continued to show his brilliance behind the wickets, conjuring up magical stumpings.