MS Dhoni played a significant behind-the-scenes role in Jharkhand's maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy victory, according to JSCA joint secretary Shahbaz Nadeem. Dhoni was consulted on coaching appointments and overall planning, and he closely followed the tournament, noting player strengths and weaknesses. Nadeem stated that Dhoni's advice was sought at every significant step during the restructuring of Jharkhand cricket ahead of the season, which saw the team win 10 out of 11 matches. Ishan Kishan was a standout performer, captaining the team and scoring 517 runs.