KL Rahul knows very well what it means to have MS Dhoni in the stands, especially in Ranchi. A day ahead of the first ODI against South Africa, the India captain spoke candidly about his respect towards Dhoni. His presser quickly turned emotional and full of admiration as he shared how the team feels happy and motivated anytime Dhoni is around them. The Ranchi city has been full of energy after Dhoni invited Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and other players for dinner. A video of Dhoni driving Kohli back to the hotel went viral and reminded fans of old memories. Against this background, Rahul's words showed why Dhoni still has a strong place in Indian cricket. When asked about Dhoni attending the match, Rahul said: “Obviously, sir, we’ve all played under him and have been his fans. We’ve played together as well, so we are all friends. To know someone like MS is very special. We’ve had the opportunity to get to know some as big as MS, someone who has been so successful as an Indian player, and we all respect him hugely as a human being.” Also Read | KL Rahul ODI Captaincy Record: Total Matches, Wins, Losses & Key Stats Ranchi Crowd Ready for Dhoni Magic Explaining about how Dhoni's presence changes the whole mood of the stadium, Rahiul added: "So, if he comes to watch the match, the crowd and we will be even more excited. We are happy that he might be there. If the crowd turns up, we'll also enjoy playing here, and hopefully we can win the game, put up a good performance, and entertain the crowd and MS Dhoni. He will also feel happy if we win the game." For India, these ODIs at Ranchi, Raipur, and Visakhapatnam are significant. The side just lost the Test series 0-2, and this white-ball series is an opportunity to start afresh. It is also an early step toward building the squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. The presence of Dhoni, himself a legend, a local hero, and a former World Cup-winning skipper makes this series even more special. If India were to win in Ranchi, it won't be a usual win. It will be a small tribute to the man who continues to inspire the team at the backdrop of his huge legacy and calm nature.