Mahendra Singh Dhoni also referred to as “Mahi” by his lovely fans is a very popular identity in Indian households. He is an Indian Professional Cricketer who plays as a Right Handed Batter and Wicket Keeper.
Widely regarded as one of the most prolific wicket-keeper-batsmen and captains, he represented the Indian Cricket Team and was the captain of the side in limited-overs formats from 2007 to 2017 and in test cricket from 2008 to 2014.
He has led India to victory in the 2007 Men’s T20 World Cup, 2011 Men’s ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy, making him the only captain in the world to win three different limited-overs ICC tournaments. He also led the teams that won the Asia Cup in 2010, and 2016 and was a member of the title-winning squad in 2018. He is also the most successful captain in the IPL, having won the title 5 times as captain with Chennai Super Kings. His legacy as one of the most smart cricketers has been and will forever be etched in our minds.
He won India’s highest sports honour Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2008. He received the fourth-highest civilian award Padma Shri in 2009 and third third-highest civilian award Padma Bhushan in 2018.
Mahi also holds an honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment of the Indian Territorial Army which was presented to him by the Indian Army in 2011. Born in Ranchi on 07 July 1981, Dhoni has now become a global icon. Today, as we celebrate his 43rd birthday we take a deep dive into the cricketer’s entrepreneurial skills by presenting you the 07 startups he has invested in as of now.
1) Cars24
The SaaS-modeled Cars24 managed to raise an undisclosed amount of fund from the former Indian captain in Series D in 2019. Dhoni serves as a brand ambassador for Cars24, a cutting-edge e-commerce platform for pre-owned cars. it has grown to become a multinational auto tech company with operations in the UAE, Australia, and India.
2) EMotorad
Founded in 2020 by Rajib Gangopadhyay, Kunal Gupta, Aditya Oza, and Sumedh Battewar, EMotorad announced a partnership with former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has invested in the company and will serve as a brand endorser. The Pune-headquartered manufactures e-cycles for adventure seekers, daily commuters, and casual riders. It also exports worldwide, customizing the e-cycles to meet country-specific regulations.
3) Garuda Aerospace
The Chennai-based drone tech Garuda Aerospace raised investment from Dhoni in March 2022. He is also the current brand ambassador of the firm having 400+ drones and 500+ pilots.
4) HomeLane
In 2021, the former skipper invested in the home interiors brand, HomeLane. In the three-year partnership, Dhoni has joined the startup as a brand ambassador and equity partner. HomeLane was founded in 2014, since its inception its tech-enabled teams have completed the delivery of over 15,000 homes in 10 cities. It has centers in various cities such as Pune, Chennai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Vizag, Mysore, etc.
5) Khatabook
MS Dhoni and Khatabook announced their strategic partnership in March 2020. The former Indian cricketer invested an undisclosed amount in Bengaluru-based in 2021. He is also the brand ambassador for the firm. Khatabook generates reports, sends reminders to creditors, and facilitates online payments through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and QR systems. As per a report by Mint the startup has accumulated $50M registered merchants in less than a year.
6) SportsFit
MS Dhoni entered the fitness solutions industry with an investment in SportsFit. Under the brand SportsFit World, he owns more than 200 gyms across the nation. The mentality that has made Mahendra Singh Dhoni such an inspirational leader is also what SportsFit. The startup also states Dhoni as one of the fittest celebrities in India.
7) InkBrews
Dhoni has also invested in the food and beverage firm 7InkBrews and has also signed as the brand ambassador of the startup in 2021. A new line of chocolates and beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) under the brand Copter7, which was founded by Mohit Bhagchandani and co-founded by Adil Mistry and Kunal Patel.
Decoding MS Dhoni’s Entrepreneurial Mindset
MS Dhoni’s leadership qualities have won India three ICC trophies which in itself is a dream for any player leading the side. There is much to learn for leading entrepreneurs and managers. Here are some crucial teachings from MS Dhoni’s success as a leader.
1) Bringing the Best from Your Team
The right person for the right job has been Dhoni’s philosophy, choosing young lad Joginder Sharma instead of underconfident but experienced Harbhajan Singh to bowl the last over in the finals of the T20 World Cup in South Africa won him his first ICC tournament. The same philosophy should be followed by every manager or firm owner to get the best out of his teammates.
2) Humbleness, Modesty, and Humaneness
Humbleness, Modesty, and humanness have been Dhoni’s innate traits that everyone has liked about him. He has never been overconfident even after achieving so much in his career. He usually hands over the trophy to the youngest team member which is a sign of his humbleness. One should never hesitate to praise their colleagues after every success the team achieves.
3) Calmness
Going by the name “Captain Cool” MSD has rarely shown any sign of fear or desperation on the cricket field however tense the situation may be. Other teammates often look up to him in crunch situations. Similarly, every leader should give a sense of calmness to his workforce during a difficult time period.
4) Taking Ownership
A great leader walks the talk, i.e. leads by example. He does not demand respect but earns it. A born leader shows his team how to find solutions to the most difficult problems. The same holds true for an entrepreneur as his leadership style decides the fate of the budding organization.
5) Keep Hustling
Before making his name in the Indian Team, Ms Dhoni was a ticket checker but he never gave up on his dreams. He kept hustling and made his name in one othe most competitive sports in India. Keeping a similar attitude could greatly help startup founders and leaders to achieve the desired results.
