Jharkhand’s historic first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy triumph earlier this month had a key figure working behind the scenes—MS Dhoni. Former India spinner and current Jharkhand State Cricket Association joint secretary Shahbaz Nadeem has revealed that the legendary wicketkeeper-batter stayed in constant touch with the management and players throughout the tournament, offering advice and monitoring every player’s performance. While Dhoni has not played for Jharkhand since 2015, his involvement in restructuring the state’s cricket setup and mentoring the team played a crucial role in their breakthrough title win.

Dhoni followed every match and gave regular inputs

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Nadeem explained how Dhoni was deeply involved in Jharkhand’s SMAT campaign from the very beginning. He said,

“When we started the season, right from the appointment of the coaching staff, we have always taken his (Dhoni) advice and suggestions. He followed the entire [SMAT] tournament, noted all the strengths and weaknesses of the players and discussed with us.”

Nadeem also revealed that Dhoni’s knowledge of Jharkhand’s domestic players is exceptional and that he is genuinely invested in helping the state’s cricket grow. He added,

“He knows the stats and numbers of each domestic player from Jharkhand. He is very interested in helping Jharkhand cricket grow.”

This level of involvement shows that even though Dhoni stepped away from domestic cricket a decade ago, his commitment to Jharkhand cricket remains strong. His experience as one of the most successful captains in cricket history and his tactical acumen clearly helped guide the team’s decision-making during the tournament.

Jharkhand’s maiden SMAT title

Jharkhand beat Haryana in the final of the 2025/26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to lift their first-ever title in the tournament. Led by Ishan Kishan, who finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 517 runs at an average of 57.44 and a strike rate over 197, Jharkhand produced a dominant campaign. Kishan also smashed two centuries, including one in the final, showing the kind of fearless cricket that has become synonymous with Dhoni’s philosophy.

The title win was only Jharkhand’s second major domestic trophy, highlighting just how significant this achievement is for the state. With Dhoni’s guidance in the background and young talent like Kishan leading from the front, Jharkhand cricket appears to be entering a new era of success.

Dhoni’s last appearance for Jharkhand in 2015

Dhoni last played for Jharkhand in 2015 during a Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Delhi, where he scored 70 off 108 balls. Despite his effort, Jharkhand lost the game by 99 runs. Since then, the 44-year-old has not featured in domestic cricket but continues to play in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings.

Dhoni retired from international cricket on August 15, 2020, but his legacy remains unmatched. He is the only captain in cricket history to win all three major ICC white-ball trophies—the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. His calm leadership, tactical brilliance and ability to make game-changing decisions earned him the nickname “Captain Cool” and a place in the ICC Hall of Fame.

Restructuring Jharkhand cricket from behind the scenes

Beyond just the SMAT triumph, Nadeem revealed that Dhoni has been actively involved in restructuring Jharkhand cricket from the grassroots level. This includes helping with the appointment of coaching staff, setting up better training programs and identifying talent across the state. His vision is to create a sustainable pipeline of players who can compete at the highest level and bring more silverware to Jharkhand.

With Dhoni’s mentorship and the rising talent pool in the state, Jharkhand cricket could become a force to reckon with in Indian domestic cricket in the coming years. The SMAT title is just the beginning of what could be a golden period for the state.