Even though Jharkhand won its first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on the field, its roots were discreetly established months earlier thanks to the impact of MS Dhoni, a person who is still very much a part of the state’s cricket culture even though he no longer wears India’s colors.
According to JSCA joint secretary Shahbaz Nadeem, Dhoni’s counsel was sought at every major stage of a comprehensive reorganization of Jharkhand cricket prior to the 2024–2025 season, which finally resulted in the state’s first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy victory.
Ishan Kishan, whose explosive performances drove the title run, is another example of Jharkhand’s long history of producing excellent cricketers. Kishan, who was just called up to India’s T20 squad for the upcoming World Cup, now follows in the footsteps of the greatest cricket export from the state, Dhoni.
Even though Dhoni left international cricket in 2020, he still has a strong bond with the sport, especially Jharkhand cricket. Dhoni played a crucial role as a sounding board when the Jharkhand State Cricket Association underwent administrative changes in 2024 and administrators developed a long-term plan for the state.
After a lengthy playing career, Nadeem—now an administrator—confirmed that Dhoni’s engagement extended much beyond providing symbolic counsel. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, he disclosed that Dhoni was contacted regarding coaching recruitment and general planning, including the choice of Ratan Kumar as the men’s coach.
“When we started the season, right from the appointment of the coaching staff, we have always taken his advice and suggestions,” Nadeem said. “He followed the entire [SMAT] tournament, noted all the strengths and weaknesses of the players and discussed with us.”
This careful scrutiny resulted in an exceptionally successful campaign. Jharkhand used a style of daring, contemporary T20 cricket to win 10 of their 11 games on their way to the championship. As captain, Kishan set the pace for the team throughout the campaign by scoring 517 runs in 10 innings with an incredible strike rate of 197.
There were multiple sources of support. Anukul Roy had a memorable tournament, hitting 303 runs and taking 19 wickets to win Player of the Tournament, while young batsman Kumar Kushagra proved to be a dependable finisher.
Jharkhand’s confidence and preparation were most evident in the last match versus Haryana. They easily won with a dominant score of 262, igniting jubilation throughout the state and demonstrating how successful their campaign had been.
Nadeem is adamant that Dhoni’s subtle but unwavering presence was the key to that accomplishment. “He knows the stats and numbers of each domestic player from Jharkhand. He is very interested in helping Jharkhand cricket grow,” Nadeem said, a statement that encapsulates Dhoni’s long-lasting connection to the area.
