Mahendra Singh Dhoni, former captain of the Indian cricket team and a legend of the game, will mentor the Indian team for the T20 World Cup, honorary secretary of the BCCI Jay Shah has announced. Mahendra Singh Dhoni has already retired as a player from international cricket.
"Former India Captain @msdhoni to mentor the team for the T20 World Cup" – Honorary Secretary @JayShah #TeamIndia
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 8, 2021
The announcement has sparked a meme fest on social media. Dhoni is, after all, the only captain to have won all three ICC tournaments, the T20 World Cup in 2007, the ODI World Cup in 2011 and the Champions Trophy in 2013.
Fans are delighted that India’s most successful captain will mark a return to the Indian dressing room. Wassim Jaffer, former batsman for the Indian test team, shared a Rajnikanth meme to celebrate the occasion.
MS Dhoni after making a surprise entry into the Indian dressing room for #t20worldcup2021 😄 pic.twitter.com/xhJtxqes7m
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) September 8, 2021
Another fan remarked, ‘Yeh Dil Maange More’ (This heart wants more).
After announced MS Dhoni will be as Mentor of Team India in T20WC
— Imabzkhan MSDian™ (@MSDhoniRules) September 8, 2021
Le MSDian: #MSDhoni #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/0gf3WnHRoR
One football enthusiast compared the scenario to the final of the Euro 2016 Football Championship where Ronaldo egged on his teammates after he was forced out of the game by an injury. The coach of the Portugal team watched on the from the sidelines while Ronaldo, the talisman of the team, was much more vocal. Portugal went on to win the final in extra time.
Shastri and Dhoni at T20 WC pic.twitter.com/Qobh3Qfj0Y
— ₿hargav (@ThatIndianGuy) September 8, 2021
ESPN joined in the celebrations as well.
Dhoni fans right now…#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/2Ut0poVoyp
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 8, 2021
A fan compared Mahendra Singh Dhoni to Bahubali.
Haters gonna hate, Dhoni gonna mentor. pic.twitter.com/MS3YXIw0rr
— अंकित जैन (@indiantweeter) September 8, 2021
There are Money Heist memes doing the rounds as well.
Ms dhoni in this world cup: pic.twitter.com/nwqLByhYES
— rozgar_CA (@Memeswalaladka) September 8, 2021
There are memes and jokes all around following the appointment.
News channels: For India this is going to be the first t20 wc of which MS Dhoni will not be a part.
— Neeche Se Topper (@NeecheSeTopper) September 8, 2021
MS Dhoni: pic.twitter.com/b0F1VsZGKf
Dhoni Fans#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/k51lN2UpS3
— श्री कबूतरुद्दीन प्रसाद फर्नांडिज वैक्सीन वाले (@sachya2002) September 8, 2021
When I see MS Dhoni's name as a mentor for #T20WorldCupsquad pic.twitter.com/BZuaRJobup
— संस्कारी balak 🙂 (@Rohit_Roy___) September 8, 2021
When I see MS Dhoni's name as a mentor #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/cYlwPxkr5n
— Mitchel Mahe ❤️ (@BigilMahe97) September 8, 2021
The ICC T20 World Cup is slated for October this year. India had won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 but since then, has not managed to win the event. Mahendra Singh Dhoni had announced his retirement on Independence Day in 2020.
Apart from his international success, MS Dhoni is also one of the most successful captains in the Indian Premier League, leading Chennai Super Kings to eight finals of which the team managed to win the trophy on three occasions. The former captain is often fondly referred to as ‘Mahi’.