Asia Cup 2025: ‘Dhoni-Gambhir pair will be worth watching’ – Ex-India star on MS Dhoni’s mentor role with Team India

There have been reports that iconic India captain MS Dhoni has been offered the post of national team consultant for the upcoming Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, as the Suryakumar Yadav-led side prepares to defend their championship in the continental event, which begins on September 9. However, there has been no confirmation that Dhoni has accepted the mentorship job given to him by India’s Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI).

Meanwhile, former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has stated that it is extremely impossible to predict whether the senior wicketkeeper-batsman will take the post with the Indian squad or not, as it is tough to contact him by phone or message. But if he does, Tiwary has stated that he is eager to see what head coach Gautam Gambhir and Dhoni bring to the table.

“Only time will tell (if Dhoni accepts the role). He has been offered the mentor’s role, but has he picked up the phone? Because as far as I know, it is really difficult to get in touch with him on phone. He rarely responds even to the messages. A lot of players have confirmed this.

We do not know what his reply would be if he sees the text message. If he does accept, then his experience as a captain and player will be very useful, as the new players emerging today and becoming stars of the Indian team give him a lot of respect. The pairing of MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir will also be worth watching,” Tiwary was quoted as saying by Navbharat Times.

Dhoni mentored India at T20 World Cup 2021

Notably, Dhoni has acted as the Indian team’s mentor during the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup as well. The Indian team was led by the then skipper Virat Kohli, but despite packing a star-studded line-up, the team failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the global event. With the Ranchi-born reported to be back as a mentor, it will be fascinating to see what he brings to the table with cricketing intellect and acumen.