Jharkhand’s incredible victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 was more than just a victory on the field, as it was the result of careful planning, smart decisions and the immense influence of MS Dhoni. They won their major domestic title by defeating Haryana in the final earlier this month.
How MS Dhoni’s silent masterclass led to Jharkhand’s historic SMAT win
Jharkhand’s maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win was celebrated for Ishan Kishan’s impressive leadership on the field, but the real architect of this historic win operated from the shadows, and that is none other than former Indian captain Dhoni.
Former India spinner Shahbaz Nadeem revealed that Dhoni’s behind-the-scenes guidance was instrumental in Jharkhand’s journey from underdogs to SMAT 2025 champions. The veteran wicketkeeper remained closely associated with the team throughout the season.
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The mentor in the shadows: Decoding Dhoni’s “silent role”
Dhoni has not played for Jharkhand since 2015, but his commitment has never diminished. Nadeem revealed that MSD, one of the greatest captains of all time, was in regular touch with the players and management long before the tournament started and was advising on tactics and team structure.
“When we started the season, right from the appointment of the coaching staff, we always took his (MS Dhoni’s) advice and suggestions. He followed them completely,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Nadeem as saying. [SMAT] “Noted all the strengths and weaknesses of the players in the tournament and discussed them with us.”
Building a winning blueprint: Rely on local talent
Changes had started in the Jharkhand cricket team even before the start of the domestic season. Dhoni had advised the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) against making external appointments too often and encouraged them to rely on local knowledge and stability rather than bringing in outsiders.
Following the advice of the former Indian captain, the JSCA appointed long-time age-group coach Ratan Kumar as the head coach, while Sunny Gupta took charge of the bowling department. This ensured trust, continuity and a deep understanding of the players’ strengths.
The JSCA joint secretary further said, “He knows the stats and numbers of every domestic player in Jharkhand. He is very interested in helping Jharkhand cricket move forward.”
Also read: Ishan Kishan’s return to India ODI confirmed after brilliant century in Vijay Hazare Trophy
“Just stay calm”: Dhoni’s mantra that changed the team
MS Dhoni’s simple philosophy, “Just stay calm and support your game,” transformed his game into fearless T20 cricket. Even wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Kushagra credited his guidance for his and the team’s success. Dhoni’s involvement was revealed in more detail.
He closely tracked the numbers, statistics and performance of every domestic player from Jharkhand. Even the coaching staff admitted they were surprised by how quickly the team came together.
A blueprint for success beyond trophies
The JSCA administration under the leadership of Shahbaz Nadeem and Saurabh Tiwari also introduced performance-linked incentives for coaches, encouraged by Dhoni, thereby strengthening accountability and trust across the team.
