When MS Dhoni wished Indian women’s team after World Cup triumph: Smriti Mandhana reveals story
New Delhi: MS Dhoni is known for not using his phone regularly and being unavailable even to some of his former and present teammates who try to reach out. However, the former India captain made an exception when the Indian women’s team won their maiden ODI World Cup last year.
dropped a message to Smriti Mandhana on WhatsApp, congratulating her and the entire team on their memorable win. He also requested Mandhana to pass on his message to all her teammates. Indian women’s team captain Mandhana recent revealed the story while speaking at an event with Dhoni.
Mandhana shared details of the heartwarming exchange during a promotional event, which was hosted by popular commentator Harsha Bhogle. Mandhana said she was delighted to get a message from Dhoni, who is someone who doesn’t use his phone much.
“He actually did send me a message after the World Cup win. I know he doesn’t use his phone a lot. I was very happy that he used WhatsApp to congratulate all of us,” Mandhana said at the event.
“You saved the number?” Bhogle asked playfully after Mandhana’s revelation. The Indian women’s team star then revealed she already had Dhoni’s contact saved on her phone as she had shot a commercial with the legendary wicket-keeper batter before.
“I did have his number,” Mandhana replied.
👤: did you save the number?
smriti: i did have his numberhaha but this is so wholesome 🥹 https://t.co/IEApLSTn23
— isha (smriti’s only wife) (@smritizzn) October 29, 2026
Dhoni also joined the conversation and explained why he sent a message only to Mandhana. The former India captain shared that he only had Mandhana’s number on his phone from the Indian women’s team and thus decided to send her a message, asking her to pass on his wishes to the team.
“I didn’t know anyone else’s (number) from the team. I wanted the message to go through. We had just shot (a commercial) before that. I thought, ‘Let me send a message to Smriti’, and I mentioned, ‘Please wish everyone who is part of the team’,” said Dhoni.
India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on November 02 last year to win their maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title. India rode on Shafali Verma’s 87 and Deepti Sharma’s 57 to post a strong total of 298 runs on the board, batting first in the summit clash.
Deepti’s fifer then helped India bowl out the Proteas for 246 runs in the run-chase to secure a commanding win. India lifted their maiden World Cup under former captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who joined Dhoni and Kapil Dev in becoming only the third skipper to win the ODI World Cup for India.
World Cup win changes how Indian women’s cricket moves forward: Dhoni
While explaining the reason behind sending the message to Mandhana, Dhoni also spoke about the significance of India’s World Cup triumph. The former captain said the triumph changes the way women’s cricket will move forward in the country and will pave the way for younger generation to look at the sport as a profession.
“It (the World Cup triumph) is a big thing. It changes how Indian women’s cricket moves forward. Not only the fact that you have brought a big trophy for the country. It’s the fact that these girls, they paved the way for future ladies and how they would look at cricket and treat it as a profession,” said Dhoni.
“I feel that was a big day for Indian cricket,” he added.