‘He made us all believe’: How Dhoni is quietly shaping Jharkhand’s next generation

KOLKATA: Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s impact on Jharkhand cricket never needed an official label. Even after a long time away from domestic cricket, the former India captain is quietly making his mark and helping shape the young generation that is now beginning to make its presence felt at the highest domestic level across formats.Thursday’s Duleep Trophy triumph in the East Zone, their first since 2012, offered perhaps the clearest indication yet of the strength of Jharkhand’s emerging batting core. Captain Ishan Kishan led from the front and amassed 350 runs in the final, while Shikhar Mohan, Kumar Kushagra, Md Kounain Quraishi and Anukul Roy were among the Jharkhand players who made significant contributions during the campaign.Naturally, the title was a joint success of the Eastern Zone. Bengal added considerable experience through Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudip Gharami and Shahbaz Ahmed, while Bihar’s teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also made it to the semi-finals with the fastest half-century in the history of the tournament. But the performance of Jharkhand’s young middle-order batsmen provided one of the strongest threads running through the East Zone campaign.And behind this development is a familiar figure who continues to offer leadership without occupying any formal role.“Whenever he has free time and is in Ranchi, he visits the (JSCA) stadium. From juniors to seniors, when the camps are on, he himself comes, talks to people and gets involved. When we won Mushtaq Ali last year, the first congratulatory message I got was from Mahi bhai,” JSCA secretary and former India and Jharkhand batsman Saurabho Tiwary said about Saurabho Tiwary.“He keeps telling us which players are good and should be watched. He also talks to the players whenever they get a chance to meet him and tells them how to play. The most important thing he discusses with them is how to read the game. That’s a huge mental factor when you’re playing at the highest level,” Tiwary told TOI on Thursday.Tiwary, who used to be a regular in the Indian Premier League, said that Dhoni’s involvement has grown significantly and that his interest in the state setup remains remarkably close. Dhoni can, according to Tiwary, “name Jharkhand’s XI every day and keep a close eye on emerging players”.This influence does not necessarily apply to technical teaching. It’s about understanding what it takes to survive and succeed at the highest level – something Dhoni knows better than most.Former Jharkhand player Ishank Jaggi and now their U-23 coach, who has also worked closely with several junior cricketers in the state, believes that the current culture has developed a greater understanding of their game.“MSD was the first player to play for this country from Jharkhand. He made us all believe that players from Jharkhand can also be at the highest level,” Jaggi said.According to Jaggi, the man of the match in the 2012 Duleep Trophy final – the last time East Zone triumphed – Dhoni remains closely connected to the state’s cricketing ecosystem despite his busy schedule.“Whenever he’s in Ranchi and he’s free, he makes sure he’s at the (JSCA) stadium. Coaches and players ask him about different situations and he shares his experiences. Be it the men’s team or the women’s team, everyone benefits from his input.”Jaggi also believes that the likes of Kushagra and Mohan are capable of pushing India’s selection. Shikhar, in particular, has emerged as one of Jharkhand’s most promising young all-rounders in cricket, with his batting, bowling and fielding across formats attracting praise from Tiwary.“I think you will see even more good players coming through in the next three years,” Tiwary said. “The future looks very good for Jharkhand.This optimism is rooted in more than one successful Duleep Trophy campaign and their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy triumph last year under Kishan and with the same set-up. Tiwary pointed to a growing system in which former players are now involved in coaching, selection and management, bringing with it a closer understanding of the players and the journey they have taken.For a generation that grew up idolizing Dhoni, he remains the most influential link between Jharkhand’s cricketing past and its future, and the Duleep Trophy triumph in the East Zone offered a glimpse of what may lie ahead. The likes of Kishan, Kushagra, Shikhar, Roy and Quraishi are already making their mark beyond state cricket, while the former Jharkhand players continue to mentor the next batch, aided by Dhoni’s quiet but steadfast leadership.