How MS Dhoni is quietly shaping Jharkhand's next generation

"He made us all believe": How Dhoni is quietly moulding Jharkhand's next generation of cricketers

KOLKATA: Mahendra Singh Dhoni's fingerprint on Jharkhand cricket needs no official title. Long after stepping away from the pitch, the former India captain keeps shaping a young batch that is now making itself felt across formats.

East Zone's Duleep Trophy win on Thu — their first since 2012 — laid it bare. Captain Ishan Kishan led from the top with 350 runs in the final, backed by Shikhar Mohan, Kumar Kushagra, Md Kounain Quraishi and Anukul Roy. The trophy was a team effort, of course — Bengal brought the experience via Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Easwaran and Shahbaz Ahmed, while Bihar's teen star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi struck the fastest fifty in Duleep history in the semifinal. But Jharkhand's young middle-order was the backbone of the run out.

And threading through it all is that familiar figure — no role, just guidance.

"Whenever he's free and in Ranchi, he's at the JSCA stadium. From juniors to seniors, he comes himself, talks to people and gets involved. When we won the Mushtaq Ali last year, the first congrats I got was from Mahi bhai," JSCA secretary and former batter Saurabh Tiwary told TOI. "He keeps telling us who to watch, and what he stresses most is learning to read the game. That's a massive mental factor at the top level."

Per Tiwary, Dhoni's involvement has only grown — he can name Jharkhand's playing XI blind and watches emerging names closely. It's not about technique; it's about knowing what it takes to survive up top.

Former player and current U23 coach Ishank Jaggi agrees. "MSD was the first guy from Jharkhand to play for the country. He made us all believe our players could reach that level." He backs Kushagra and especially Mohan — a genuine all-rounder with bat, ball and fields — for India call-ups.

"I think in the next three years you'll see even more good players. The future looks very good for Jharkhand," Tiwary added, pointing to a growing system where ex-players now drive coaching, selection and administration.

For a generation raised idolising him, Dhoni stays the strongest link between Jharkhand's cricketing past and its future — and Thursday's Duleep win was just a peek at what's coming.

Source: Times of India