Smriti Mandhana discusses MS Dhoni's message following India's World Cup win

Indian women's cricket captain Smriti Mandhana revealed that former captain MS Dhoni sent a WhatsApp message to congratulate the team following their historic 2025 ICC Women's ODI World Cup victory. Speaking at an event in Mumbai, Mandhana noted that Dhoni, who is known for limited phone usage, reached out to her specifically because she was the only player on the squad whose number he possessed.

Dhoni explained that he sent the message through Mandhana to ensure his congratulations reached the entire team. He remarked that the victory is a significant milestone that will change the trajectory of Indian women's cricket, helping future players view the sport as a professional career path.

India secured their maiden ODI World Cup title by defeating South Africa by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai. Mandhana's individual performance during the tournament included 434 runs in nine matches, setting a new record for the most runs by an Indian batter in a single Women's World Cup.