Team India’s former skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, is reported to be offered the mentorship role by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
Several reports claim the possible reunion of MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir as the mentor-coach pair for the next ICC’s main event. While BCCI and Dhoni remain silent, the news continues to spread like wildfire.
Amidst the increasing confusion, the former Indian cricketer and current Bengal politician Manoj Tiwary has attempted to clarify whether the reports are a mere rumor or real facts.
‘Gambhir-Dhoni Combination Worth Watching’: Tiwary’s Opinion
Despite being the former teammate of MS Dhoni, Manoj Tiwary found it difficult to predict his decision. However, he felt that the collaboration of MSD and the current head coach, Gambhir, would be worth watching:
“See! First and foremost, I doubt whether he will accept the role or not. For me, it is very difficult to predict. But his valuable experience as a captain and player will be supportive.
As new players are emerging and becoming the star members of the Indian team, they respect him a lot. Especially, the pair of Dhoni and Gambhir makes it worth watching,” Tiwary said.
‘Only Time Will Tell Us the Truth’: Manoj Tiwary
Furthermore, Manoj Tiwary revealed about Dhoni’s notorious nature for being unavailable on the phone since his playing days:
“Woh Phone Ko Uthaye Hain yaa nahi? (Had he ever attended the phone calls or not?) Definitely NOT! It’s very difficult to contact him because there are rare instances when he answers calls or replies to messages.
Only time shall tell us if he has been given the offer or not. Previously, many players have said that it was very rare to get replies from him. Also, we don’t know if he used to read our messages or not,” Tiwary added.
From the above statement, it becomes clear how MSD’s teammates found it impossible to contact him via phone calls or even messages.
Dhoni’s Previous Mentorship Role in the T20 World Cup 2021
For those unaware, it is a fact that MS Dhoni previously served as Team India’s mentor for the T20 World Cup 2021. The Virat Kohli-led side was backed by the head coach Ravi Shastri, with Dhoni taking on the mentorship role.
However, Shastri and Dhoni stepped down from their individual roles after India struggled with a disappointing campaign. The men in blue failed to qualify for the semi-finals and suffered their first-ever humiliating defeat to Pakistan in a World Cup match.
Why Dhoni Could be the Eligible Contender to Become India’s Mentor?
Having led India to three ICC trophies — the T20 World Cup 2007, the ODI World Cup 2011, and the Champions Trophy 2013- MS Dhoni’s proven leadership skills can be a boon for the Indian cricket team.
Even after retiring from international cricket in 2020, MSD continued to play for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He guided the team to glory in 2021 and 2023, thereby becoming the joint most successful captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history alongside Rohit Sharma.
BCCI would be keen to invite Dhoni permanently once again for the same role, as he previously served as a short-term mentor during the 7th edition of the T20 World Cup in 2021.
As Dhoni is no stranger to taking up this role, his collaboration with Gambhir promises to elevate the standards of the Indian coaching staff.
With a few months left for the T20 World Cup 2026, Dhoni’s potential inclusion as a mentor could enhance Gambhir’s coaching records in white-ball cricket and create miracles for the Indian cricket team.
Final Verdict: Is Dhoni Ready to Take Up the Mentor Role?
Meanwhile, the insiders claim that MS Dhoni might reject the offer due to his deteriorated relationship with India’s current head coach Gautam Gambhir. But the duo hasn’t confirmed their differences publicly so far.
However, it is understood that the chances of Dhoni and Gambhir partnering for the coaching role are just rumors to stir excitement among fans and cricket experts.
On the other hand, Dhoni’s participation in the next IPL season in 2026 remains uncertain, which adds fuel to the existing debate.
Earlier, there were reports of MSD becoming the mentor in franchise cricket. But the 44-year-old hasn’t accepted the coaching role at a higher level and has maintained his focus only as a player.
In other words, the former CSK captain is doing his level best to push the age limits and continue playing for the five-time champions for a few more years. As Manoj Tiwary said, only time will tell about MSD’s future in the cricketing world. Till then, the rumors about him accepting the mentorship role continue to escalate in the coming days.