Cricket buffs can never stop waxing eloquent about former Indian skipper MS Dhoni. And why would they? He is a magician with the bat, a brilliant strategist on the field and lightning-quick behind the stumps. Don’t even get me started on his stump mic recordings, they’re gold. He keeps a cool head, jokes around and even gives valuable advice to the youngsters. We don’t need any more reasons to admire him but he keeps giving them to us anyway.
Case in point, this incident from the third T20 international against New Zealand
https://twitter.com/AkshayVandure1/status/1094791619927203841
An avid MSD fan trespassed security and ran towards the pitch right between the match. Considering the fact that it was Dhoni’s 300th T20, emotions were on a high. The fan hurried up to him and immediately knelt before the cricketer. In his hurry, the fan didn’t realise that the tricolour he was holding was about to brush the ground. But Dhoni did. He lost no time in taking the flag from him. Only when it was securely in his hands did he help the fan up.
His gesture is winning hearts online
Dhoni doest not have flag in his helmet because while doing wicket keeping he has to put helmet on the ground. And he does not want Indian flag to touch the ground. Sometime not showing off the patriotism is the best patriotism #India
— Ketan Raval (@ketanraval) February 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/DhoniAnecdotes/status/1094633889165991937
This is not pre-planned… This is pure Instincts…
Those who don't say "Vande Maataram", watch how Dhoni prevented the National Flag from being grounded…
You can buy fame, but not patriotism…https://t.co/GIJGfi0APW— Rashmi Ranjan (@rohitranjan) February 10, 2019
Dhoni’s gesture of not letting the Indian flag held by the fan touch his feet was 💯💯. Massive respect!
— Valay Vaidya (@valayism) February 10, 2019
Agar aap MS Dhoni ko abuse krte ho to Badhai ho ,Aap Chu**yo ki Category m aate ho🙏
He didn't let Country's flag down🇮🇳❤️#MSDhoni #Respect pic.twitter.com/W9MARYLOIW
— MAHI🇮🇳 (@Helicopter_King) February 10, 2019
The men in blue eventually lost the match by 4 runs while chasing a total of 212. We also lost the 3-match series to New Zealand 1-2. Dhoni himself could manage to put only 2 runs on the board. But despite all of that, our respect for him has multiplied tenfold.