Bengaluru, Sept. 8: As fans eagerly waited for the announcement of the India team for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, the wait was worth it as they were rewarded with a big surprise.
BCCI took one and all by surprise as they brought in former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni in as memtor of India's 15-member T20 World Cup team. In a press conference to unveil the squad for the mega event, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said, "Former India Captain MS Dhoni to mentor the team for the T20 World Cup.
"I spoke to him in Dubai. He agreed to be mentor for the WT20 only and I discussed with my colleagues and all are on same page. I spoke to captain (Virat Kohli) and vice captain (Rohit Sharma) and everyone agreed," stated Shah.
Dhoni, who continues to captain Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), will join the Indian team after the IPL 2021 and will mentor the side during the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Dhoni, one of India's most successful captains, with two World titles to his name, retired from international cricket last year, having played his last game in the 2019 ODI World Cup semifinal. With his vast experience and trophy laden cabinet, Dhoni's addition as mentor to the squad was welcomed by one and all.
As soon as the news was reveals, social media was flooded with messages as emotional fans lauded BCCI's masterstroke. The T20 World Cup is set to get underway on October 17th in the UAE and Oman.
Here's how social media users reacted to BCCI adding Dhoni as mentor of the Indian team:
MS Dhoni after making a surprise entry into the Indian dressing room for #t20worldcup2021 😄 pic.twitter.com/xhJtxqes7m
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) September 8, 2021
When I see MS Dhoni's name as a mentor for #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/RhV92WbY3u
— Rajabets India🇮🇳👑 (@smileandraja) September 8, 2021
How much should be read into @msdhoni’s appointment as mentor? Ravi Shastri’s term ends with the T20WC, Rahul Dravid hasn’t evinced much interest in being chief coach for an extended period. By making him mentor is BCCI making an overture to MSD?
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 8, 2021
Welcome back Thala #MSDhoni #Master #Beast pic.twitter.com/eiuxHijqP2
— Mersal IMRAN (@IamImranVJ) September 8, 2021
Once again proved that; he is more than just a player ❤️
— DHONI Trends™ (@TrendsDhoni) September 8, 2021
Twitter critics and jealous former players can never ever gain the HEIGHTS that he has reached 🙏 @msdhoni 😎 | #MentorDhoni | #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/wMTdvxD6g6
New Role in 2021 : #MentorDhoni 😎🔥@MSDhoni | #MSDhoni | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/QWaklOlJC8
— DHONI Trends™ (@TrendsDhoni) September 8, 2021
Once again in BLUE JERSEY 🥺💙🇮🇳#MentorDhoni | @MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/fNDnasy2dt
— DHONIsm™ ❤️ (@DHONIism) September 8, 2021
The bonding between @msdhoni with his juniors @imVkohli and @ImRo45 has been proved once again ❤️
— DHONI Trends™ (@TrendsDhoni) September 8, 2021
The most iconic TRIO of Indian Cricket will rule the world in the coming days 😎#MentorDhoni | #MSDhoni
Dream Still Alive 🥺#MSDhoni • #Dhoni • @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/IXErrZmF34
— OMKAR 🧑🏻💻 (@IamMSdian__) September 8, 2021
News of the Year 🥺
— MSDian™ (@ItzThanesh) September 8, 2021
We are going to witness him again in the Indian blue jersey 😭💙🇮🇳#MSDhoni | @MSDhoni | #T20WorldCup
A lot of talk regarding the 'Numbers' of @msdhoni's T20I career. But as we have always said, he is beyond those numbers and statistics.
— DHONI Trends™ (@TrendsDhoni) September 8, 2021
An emotion and an enigma ❤️#MSDhoni | #MentorDhoni
*Suresh Raina after seeing the Name of #MSDhoni as a Mentor in T20i WC squad-: pic.twitter.com/ZDdSkGqjeJ
— Pulkit🥳///(Prince) (@sarcasticyadav_) September 8, 2021
Never Retire #MSDhoni 🇮🇳❤️#MentorDhoni | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/wnpy6Sk7yl
— DHONIsm™ ❤️ (@DHONIism) September 8, 2021
Just an appreciation tweet for @BCCI
— Simran Kaur (@kaursimran_ind) September 8, 2021
What a team!
What a mentor!!
And what a jodi!!!#T20WorldCupsquad #MSDhoni #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/yIJH0iFD1W
This guy was all of us 🥺#MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/SJplFR7NCo
— P A N T H E R™ (@CricSurya07) September 8, 2021