An old video of former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni playing golf with newly re-elected United States President Donald Trump has gone viral again on the internet. After Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the 2024 US presidential election, the video, which was first captured during a round of golf at Trump National Golf Club, became popular on social media. The video was swiftly revived by Dhoni's fans, who shared it extensively on social media. Last year, Dhoni's presence at the US Open 2023, where he was present for a quarterfinal match between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, brought notice to his bond with Trump.
Dhoni playing golf with Trump
He played golf with Trump on this visit, demonstrating an unanticipated bond between the former president and the cricketing great from India. In contrast to the energy they each bring to their own sports, the film recorded the moment, which showed them both relaxed, smiling, and enjoying the game.
This connection between Trump and Indian cricket legends is not new. He famously mentioned cricket greats Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar on his 2020 trip to India, calling them "two of the world's finest cricket players." His comments generated excitement among Indian cricket enthusiasts, suggesting that Trump was not only familiar with the game but also honoured India's cricket heritage, which appealed to his Indian-American base.
Trump's associations with India's cricketing elite are not new, as seen by the recent attention Dhoni and Trump have received. He first met Sunil Gavaskar at his golf course in New York back in 2019. Gavaskar playfully noted Trump's question, "How excellent is 'Khan'?" regarding the legendary Pakistani cricket player and prime minister at the time. A humorous twist was added to the encounter when Gavaskar almost clarified "which Khan," referring to Bollywood actors Salman, Aamir, and Shah Rukh.
MS Dhoni is scheduled to make his IPL 2025 comeback with the Chennai Super Kings as an uncapped player. According to the IPL 2025 retentions, the CSK veteran was signed by the team for Rs 4 crore. Dhoni's future with CSK in the IPL was a topic of much controversy, and the fans' favourite player did not let them down.
