MS Dhoni Praises India's Historic 2025 Women's World Cup Win in Personal Message to Smriti Mandhana

Following India's historic maiden ODI World Cup victory in 2025, former captain MS Dhoni reached out to opener Smriti Mandhana via WhatsApp to share his congratulations. The interaction was publicly discussed at a recent event in Mumbai, where both cricketers appeared together.

The WhatsApp Gesture

Known for his low-profile approach and limited use of mobile technology, Dhoni’s decision to send a personal message made a significant impact on Mandhana. During the event, Mandhana confirmed that receiving the message made her "very happy."

Dhoni explained his reasoning for contacting Mandhana specifically:

• He lacked personal contact details for other squad members.
• He used their previous collaboration on a commercial shoot as a connection point.
• He requested that Mandhana extend his congratulations to every player and staff member involved in the campaign.

Impact on Women's Cricket

Beyond the tournament result, Dhoni emphasized the broader influence of this achievement. He noted that securing the country's first women's ODI World Cup title is a watershed moment that will:

• Change the trajectory of Indian women's cricket.
• Encourage more young girls to view cricket as a viable professional career.
• Serve as a landmark moment that validates the dedication of the players.

Tournament Summary

India’s path to the trophy was marked by resilience, overcoming three consecutive league-stage losses to qualify for the knockouts. The team secured a notable victory against Australia in the semi-final through a record-breaking run chase, before defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final to lift the cup under the leadership of captain Harmanpreet Kaur.