Indian cricket star
Speaking at a public event alongside the former skipper, Mandhana recounted the surprise of seeing the message appear on her device. The win, which marked India's first-ever
A rare message from a legend
During the conversation, Mandhana expressed her genuine delight at the interaction. She noted that because Dhoni is famously private and rarely active on his phone, the fact that he took the time to reach out via WhatsApp made the moment stand out. When asked by host Harsha Bhogle if she had his contact details saved, Mandhana confirmed that she did.
Dhoni provided further context regarding the exchange, explaining that his choice to message Mandhana was a matter of practicality. He admitted that she was the only player from the women's squad whose contact information he possessed at the time. Having recently collaborated with her on a commercial shoot, he felt it was the most reliable way to ensure his congratulations reached the entire team.
Reflecting on a landmark victory
The message served as a footnote to a dominant performance by the Indian side on November 2, 2025. In the final held in Navi Mumbai, India secured a 52-run victory over South Africa to claim their maiden ICC trophy. The team set a formidable target of 298/7, anchored by an impressive 87-run knock from Shafali Verma and a valuable 58 from Deepti Sharma.
The victory was cemented by a clinical bowling display, led by Deepti Sharma, who claimed five wickets. Despite a resilient century from South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt, the visitors were eventually bowled out for 246. Dhoni’s message, which included a request for Mandhana to pass on his best wishes to the rest of the squad, capped off a memorable period for Indian cricket.
