Smriti Mandhana, India's women’s team captain, has revealed that legendary India captain MS Dhoni has used WhatsApp to congratulate the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup-winning team by sending her a message.

India defeated South Africa in Navi Mumbai by 52 runs to end their 50-over World Cup drought. The Indian team had previously reached the final twice in 2005 and 2017.

This was the first time Indian women won the ICC World Cup, and Smriti Mandhana revealed that MS Dhoni, who is known for not using his phone much, sent her a message on WhatsApp, asking her to congratulate the entire team on his behalf.

Notably, MS Dhoni is the only captain to win all three white-ball ICC trophies—the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy.

“He actually did send me a message after the World Cup win. I know he doesn't use his phone a lot. I was very happy that he used WhatsApp to congratulate all of us,” Mandhana revealed at an event, also featuring MS Dhoni.

The revelation prompted a playful question from presenter Harsha Bhogle: "You saved the number?"

"I did have his number," Mandhana replied.

Dhoni then explained the reason behind the message, disclosing that Mandhana was the only player on the Indian women's team whose number he possessed.

"I didn't know anyone else's (number) from the team. I wanted the message to go through. We had just shot a commercial before that. I thought, "Let me send a message to Smriti," and I mentioned, "Please wish everyone who is part of the team," Dhoni said.

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For Dhoni, however, the significance of the triumph extended well beyond the trophy.

"It (the World Cup triumph) is a big thing. It changes how Indian women's cricket moves forward. Not only the fact that you have brought a big trophy for the country. It's the fact that these girls paved the way for future ladies and how they would look at cricket and treat it as a profession. I feel that was a big day for Indian cricket,” Dhoni said.