NEW DELHI: Seeing MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli together off the field is a dream-come-true moment for Indian cricket fans, and the excitement only grows when Dhoni himself is behind the wheel, driving Kohli in his car.

In a video that took social media by storm, Dhoni was seen driving Kohli back to the Indian team hotel after hosting a dinner for the squad at his Ranchi residence ahead of India’s first ODI against South Africa on Sunday.

Former India skipper welcomed Kohli and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant to his Ranchi farmhouse on November 27 for a quiet get-together – one that quickly became an internet sensation after fans spotted Kohli entering the Dhoni residence.

A few hours later, Dhoni personally drove Kohli back to the team hotel, without any security convoy or fanfare, evoking nostalgia of the iconic partnership that defined Indian cricket for over a decade. Star Sports shared the clip on social media, calling it the “Reunion of the Year.”

Kohli heads into the series fresh off a vintage performance in the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground last month, where he delighted fans with a trademark masterclass reminiscent of his finest knocks.

In that one-sided contest, Rohit Sharma stole the show with a commanding unbeaten 121 off 125 balls, while Kohli provided steady support with a fluent 74* off 81 deliveries. Together, the duo made light work of the 237-run chase, powering India to a dominant nine-wicket victory.

KL Rahul will step in as captain with India missing their regular ODI skipper, Shubman Gill, who picked up a neck injury during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata and is currently undergoing further evaluation in Mumbai.