ICC T20 World Cup: MS Dhoni didn't immediately agree to 'mentor' the Indian Cricket team

MS Dhoni shocked us all by announcing his retirement from international cricket last year on Independence Day.

Dhoni has caught everyone by surprise yet again this year by returning as Team India's 'mentor' for the T20 World Cup in the UAE.

After the announcement of the Indian team, Jay Shah, secretary of Indian cricket board (BCCI) said that he met with Dhoni and the former captain of Indian Cricket team was brought on board for ICC T20 event.


Dhoni did not agree immediately in the meeting that lasted about 90 minutes in Dubai, as per TOI. He was initially reluctant to take up the role of a mentor.

“It was a request to which he couldn’t say no to, but he took his time before giving his nod,” a source was quoted as saying in a TOI report.

Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri were consulted before proposing this to Dhoni.

An advisory role to the team was offered wherein the term 'mentor' wasn't used. But it was Dhoni’s equation with Virat that proved to be the clincher,” the same source stated.

Chennai Super King captain and Virat Kohli have worked together beautifully in tandem after Dhoni stepped down from limited-overs captaincy in 2017.

“Kohli always valued Dhoni’s judgement and that has to be one of the reasons behind his decision to do the mentorship," said the source.

Ravi Shastri's tenure ends at the T20 World Cup so he might not be able to experience a one-on-one with either legend of Indian cricket.

Dhoni's unmatchable T20 intelligence is what he brings in as a mentor. The source also mentioned that due to his IPL engagements he is thorough with the happenings of the T20 world.