Former India captain MS Dhoni made a rare appearance at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday (March 5) to watch the second semifinal of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 between India and England. Accompanied by his wife, Sakshi Dhoni, the former India skipper enjoyed the high-stakes clash from the VIP box alongside Rohit Sharma and his wife, Ritika Sajdeh.
Dhoni, who famously led India to victory in the inaugural 2007 ICC World Twenty20, witnessed another thrilling knockout contest involving the Men in Blue. A light-hearted moment from the match quickly went viral on social media, capturing Dhoni’s trademark composure. The incident occurred during the 18th over of England’s daunting chase of 254 runs.
When Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah stopped the ball in his follow-through while attempting to dismiss Sam Curran, Sakshi excitedly jumped in celebration, assuming Bumrah had completed a catch off his own bowling.
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However, the ball had actually touched the ground before reaching Bumrah, meaning the batter survived. While most spectators quickly realized what had happened, Sakshi’s animated reaction caught Dhoni’s attention. In a moment that perfectly reflected his calm personality, Dhoni gently gestured for her to settle down, realizing the catch had not been taken.
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The amusing exchange left several celebrities and guests in the VIP stand laughing, and the clip soon spread widely across social media platforms. On the field, the action was just as dramatic. India posted a formidable 253/7 after England captain Harry Brook won the toss and opted to field first. Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson led the charge with a brilliant 89 off 42 balls, while all-rounder Shivam Dube added valuable momentum with a quickfire 43 from 25 deliveries.
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England fought hard in the chase and were powered by a sensational 105 off 48 balls from young batter Jacob Bethell. However, the rest of the lineup failed to provide adequate support as they finished at 246/7, falling just seven runs short.
With the victory, India sealed their spot in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where they will face New Zealand national cricket team at Narendra Modi Stadium on March 8.
