Watch: MS Dhoni Spotted at Wankhede as India Edge England by 7 Runs in T20 World Cup Semi-Final

On Thursday, March 5, legendary cricket player MS Dhoni attended the India vs. England semi-final of the current T20 World Cup 2026 at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. The former India wicketkeeper-batter was seen supporting the Suryakumar Yadav-led team from the stands after leading the Men in Blue to victory in the tournament's inaugural 2007 edition. Sakshi Dhoni, his wife, was also there to offer assistance.

In the T20 World Cup semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, defending champions India overcame a spectacular attack from Jacob Bethell to secure a thrilling seven-run victory over England, setting up a title match against New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Fans had another reason to rejoice in the stands, even if the game produced a lot of drama on the pitch. While MS Dhoni, the former captain of India, was in the stadium, the slogan "Thala for a reason" became viral on social media.

Celebs at the T20 World Cup Semi-Final:

ONE OF THE MOST ADORABLE MOMENTS FROM THE MATCH. 🤣❤️

Sakshi started celebrating when Bumrah took a crowd’s catch thinking its out.

MS Dhoni quickly calmed her and conveyed its not out. 😂 pic.twitter.com/cVBt05Qa8T

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 5, 2026

The phrase, which has become a popular cliché among cricket fans, is associated with Dhoni's famous jersey number seven and his reputation as the Chennai Super Kings' "Thala" commander. Social media sites were overrun with posts praising Dhoni's presence as India defeated England in a close match. "Thala for a reason," a remark that was popular throughout the night, was echoed by numerous users. Alongside Dhoni was Rohit Sharma, a former captain of India who won the 2024 T20 World Cup. Interestingly, Rohit is only the second skipper after Dhoni to win numerous ICC titles and serves as the brand ambassador for the current twenty-team competition.  

In addition to the seasoned cricket players, members of the Indian film industry also showed their support for the Men in Blue. Bollywood stars Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Anil Kapoor, and Abhishek Bachchan are among the most prominent attendees. Alongside other family members was Nita Ambani, a prominent manager at Reliance Industries Limited and co-owner of the Mumbai Indians IPL team.

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