Ayush Mhatre might be just 19, but he has already made a strong name for himself as a captain of the future for the Indian team as well as Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
The teenager has revealed how MS Dhoni’s advice has helped him grow as a leader.
The teenager led India to the 2026 ICC U19 World Cup earlier this year and was named the vice-captain of 42 champions Mumbai for the upcoming 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season. Mhatre claimed that Dhoni’s advice to him has been simple and effective, which is to not make decision in anger.
“Mahi bhai‘s (MS Dhoni) key lesson is to always stay calm, both on and off the field. He told me that whenever you captain a side, composure is crucial because anger lasts only five minutes, and decisions taken in anger are almost always wrong. When you calm down, you think much better. Keeping a cool head on the field helps both you and the team make better decisions-that advice helped me a lot during my U-19 days, and I try to stick to it.,” said Mhatre in a press conference held on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium ahead of Mumbai’s first game in the Ranji Trophy against Chandigarh.
Meanwhile, Mhatre called it an honour to lead Mumbai and highlighted the support the entire team and senior players have given him in the dressing room.
“Becoming vice-captain of Mumbai is a huge honour, and representing a 42-time Ranji Trophy-winning team in this role is a very proud moment for me. The entire team has been extremely supportive. No one ever makes me feel like a junior or leaves me out. Siddhesh da [Lad] and the senior players have always given me the freedom to express myself and made me feel right at home,” Mhatre added.