Smriti Mandhana Reveals Dhoni’s Message After World Cup Win

India women’s cricket captain Smriti Mandhana has revealed that former India men’s captain MS Dhoni personally congratulated her and the entire team after their historic 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup victory. Mandhana shared the story during an event in Mumbai, explaining why receiving a WhatsApp message from Dhoni was particularly special given his well-known habit of staying away from his phone.

The conversation took place when Mandhana and Dhoni appeared together at Gulf Oil Lubricants’ 125th-anniversary event in Mumbai. Their discussion turned to India’s memorable World Cup triumph on November 2, 2025, when the women’s team secured its first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup title.

Mandhana revealed that Dhoni had sent her a message following the victory, asking her to pass on his congratulations to everyone in the squad. The former India captain also explained why he chose to contact Mandhana rather than another player.

Smriti Mandhana reveals MS Dhoni’s WhatsApp message after World Cup win

Mandhana said she was pleasantly surprised to receive a message from Dhoni after India’s historic achievement. Knowing that the former captain does not frequently use his phone, she considered the gesture particularly meaningful.

“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.”

Her comments highlighted the significance of receiving recognition from one of Indian cricket’s most respected former captains. Dhoni led India to several major international trophies during his playing career, including the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy.

For Mandhana and her teammates, his message represented appreciation from someone who understands the pressure and importance of winning a global tournament for India.

The story also offered a glimpse into Dhoni’s personal approach to communication. Although he is known for maintaining a relatively low profile away from cricket, he made a point of reaching out after the women’s team’s landmark achievement.

Why MS Dhoni contacted Smriti Mandhana directly

Dhoni explained that he did not have the contact numbers of other members of the Indian women’s team. He wanted to ensure that his congratulatory message reached the entire squad, so he decided to send it to Mandhana.

“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.”

His explanation showed that the message was not intended only for Mandhana. Instead, he wanted the captain to communicate his wishes to every player and member of the team who had contributed to India’s World Cup success.

Dhoni also referred to a commercial shoot involving the two cricketers before explaining how he decided to send the message. Since he already had Mandhana’s number, contacting her was the simplest way to reach the entire squad.

The exchange reflected the respect between two Indian cricket leaders who have represented the country in different eras and formats. While Dhoni achieved historic success with the men’s team, Mandhana was part of the generation that helped take women’s cricket in India to a new level.

MS Dhoni explains why India’s 2025 Women’s World Cup victory matters

Dhoni described India’s Women’s ODI World Cup triumph as an important moment for the future of women’s cricket in the country. He explained that the achievement was about more than adding another major trophy to India’s sporting history.

“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 paved the way for future ladies and how they would look at cricket and treat it as a profession.”

His comments focused on the long-term impact of the victory. Winning a global tournament can influence how young athletes view a sport, encouraging more girls to consider professional cricket as a realistic career option.

India’s success also provided a major moment for women’s cricket in the country. The team’s achievement offered younger players an opportunity to see Indian women competing at the highest level and winning one of the sport’s biggest trophies.

Dhoni’s observation highlighted the importance of role models in developing a sporting culture. When young players see athletes from their country achieve international success, it can inspire them to pursue similar ambitions and invest in their own development.

Smriti Mandhana finishes 2025 Women’s World Cup with 434 runs

Mandhana played an important role in India’s successful World Cup campaign, finishing the tournament with 434 runs in nine matches at an average of 54.25. Her performances included one century and two half-centuries, making her one of India’s leading batters throughout the competition.

She also established a significant individual record during the tournament. Her 434 runs surpassed Mithali Raj’s previous record of 409 runs in the 2017 Women’s ODI World Cup, making Mandhana the Indian batter with the most runs in a single edition of the Women’s World Cup.

Her contribution was especially important because India needed consistent performances from its top order during a challenging tournament. Mandhana provided attacking starts and helped the team build competitive totals during its journey to the title.

Although the final saw Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma take centre stage with the bat, Mandhana’s overall contribution across the competition remained a major part of India’s championship campaign.

India’s difficult journey to the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup semifinal

India’s route to the title was far from straightforward. Under Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership, the team faced several difficult moments during the group stage and suffered defeats against Australia, England and South Africa.

Those results put pressure on India’s qualification hopes, meaning the team needed a strong response in the remaining league matches. India eventually secured its place in the semifinal by defeating New Zealand in its penultimate group-stage fixture.

The victory provided the momentum needed for the knockout stages. However, India’s biggest challenge was still ahead, with Australia standing between Harmanpreet’s team and a place in the final.

The team’s ability to recover from setbacks became one of the defining features of its campaign. Instead of allowing the group-stage defeats to derail their ambitions, the players produced their best performances when the tournament reached its decisive stage.

Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur power India past Australia

India produced a historic performance in the semifinal against Australia, successfully chasing a target of 339 runs. Jemimah Rodrigues played a decisive role, scoring an unbeaten 127 from 134 deliveries to guide the team towards the final.

Harmanpreet Kaur provided equally important support, scoring 89 runs from 88 balls. The pair shared a 167-run partnership that changed the direction of the chase and kept India firmly in contention.

India eventually reached 341 for five, completing a five-wicket victory with nine balls remaining. The result became the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history and the first successful 300-plus chase in an ODI World Cup knockout match, across both men’s and women’s cricket.

Rodrigues’ unbeaten century and Harmanpreet’s composed innings demonstrated India’s ability to handle an enormous target under knockout pressure. Their partnership also ensured that the team reached the final after overcoming one of the strongest sides in international women’s cricket.

The semifinal victory became a defining moment in India’s campaign, setting up a title match against South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium.

India defeat South Africa to win the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup

India faced South Africa in the final at the DY Patil Stadium, with both teams competing for their first Women’s ODI World Cup title. The home side produced a strong batting performance before its bowlers completed the job to secure a historic championship victory.

Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave India a positive start, adding 104 runs for the opening wicket. Mandhana contributed 45 from 58 balls, hitting eight boundaries, while Shafali continued to build the innings with an aggressive approach.

Shafali eventually scored 87 from 78 deliveries, giving India a strong platform. Deepti Sharma then contributed 58 runs from 58 balls, helping the team reach 298 for seven in its allotted 50 overs.

India’s bowlers followed the batting effort with an outstanding performance. Deepti was once again central to the result, claiming five wickets for 39 runs as South Africa were bowled out for 246 in 45.3 overs.

The 52-run victory confirmed India’s first Women’s ODI World Cup championship. Deepti’s all-round contribution proved crucial, while the batting performances from Shafali, Mandhana and the rest of the lineup helped establish a competitive total.

MS Dhoni’s message adds another memorable moment to India’s World Cup success

India’s 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup victory was already a landmark achievement for the country’s cricketing history. Dhoni’s congratulatory message added another memorable moment, connecting the success of the women’s team with the legacy of one of India’s most successful former captains.

Mandhana’s revelation also highlighted how recognition from senior players can carry special meaning for athletes who achieve major milestones. Dhoni did not simply congratulate the captain; he specifically asked her to pass on his wishes to everyone involved in the campaign.

His comments about the future of women’s cricket also reflected the broader significance of the championship. The title was not only a reward for the players who lifted the trophy but also an important example for younger generations considering cricket as a professional career.

For Mandhana, the message was memorable because it came from someone who rarely uses his phone. For Indian women’s cricket, Dhoni’s words captured the importance of a victory that could inspire future players and help the sport continue to grow across the country.