At a venue where India have won all their matches, two in ODIs and one in T20I, Dhoni has had limited opportunity as the India's most successful captain and best keeper-batsman's topscore here 10 not out.
As he has stopped playing Test matches, there is no guarantee that the talismanic limited overs skipper will be around when India play their next match.
On a day most including Virat Kohli did not turn up for an optional practice, the 35-year-old was in full intent as he batted for nearly 20 minutes, swinging and swiveling his blade as the ball flew past the boundary on more than one occasion.
Dhoni was tested by the leg-spin of none other than the legendary Anil Kumble, the Indian head coach as the optional practice saw two others, Hardik Pandya and Manish Pandey, from the Mohali XI who turned up.
India last played here earlier this year when they posted 196 before restricting Sri Lanka to 127/9 in the second T20I of the series where Dhoni scored 9 not out.
Dhoni did not play the last ODI India played here when Virat Kohli's 139 not out steered them to a three-wicket win over Sri Lanka who had scored 286/8 on November 16, 2014.
The pitch is a batting paradise as both teams would certainly look to breach the 300-barrier, something that has never achieved at this venue and in this series.
"The wicket will be full of runs. We will keep our fingers crossed to see a 300-total here," the local curator said indicating that evening dew may be a determining factor, making toss a crucial event ahead of the match.
India also wrapped their practice quickly and rushed to the hotel on a day their frontline pacer Umesh Yadav turned 29. "Always be yourself. You're always happy and smiling, that's the best thing about you. I wish you all the very best for future. Wish you all the success and lots of victories together. God bless you and have a great career for Team India," Virat Kohli said in his message on BCCI Twitter.
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