MS Dhoni won’t do commercial endorsements until life turns to normal

Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has chosen not to do any endorsements/commercial advertisements amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It is rather busy with organic farming, gearing up to launch his brand of environment-friendly fertilizers soon.

MS Dhoni manager and his childhood friend Mihir Diwakar, while talking to PTI, gave a glimpse into the trailblazer’s reclusive life at his home in Ranchi.

“Patriotism is in his blood, be it serving for the country (in defense) or (farming) the land, he’s very passionate about it. He has about 40-50 acres of farmland, and he is busy growing organic crops like papaya, banana there,” Mihir Diwakar stated.

“He has stopped brand endorsements and has said that till life comes to normal, he won’t do any commercial activity,” Mihir Diwakar, who runs the MS Dhoni Cricket Academy under the name of Aarka Sports, stated.

He was newly seen driving a Mahindra’s Swaraj 963FE tractor during the lockdown. Diwakar told them they are soon going to launch their organic fertilizer under their company’s name Neo Global. He said the fertilizer is being tested at Dhoni’s farm. Dhoni recently talked about the harmful impact of pesticides in a video to promote organic farming.

“We have a team of experts and scientists, and they have developed the fertilizer, and it should be begun within two-three months,” Diwakar stated.

“I talked to him past midnight. It was a regular business talk. As usual, Dhoni would be at home with his family, with a quiet birthday celebration.”

Asked whether MS Dhoni retirement has crossed Dhoni’s mind, Diwakar said: “Being friends, we don’t discuss his cricket. But watching at him, he’s not all thinking about retirement.”

“He is very set to play the IPL. He has worked hard for this. If you remember, he was there in Chennai one month in advance before everything was shut down,” he looked out.

“He has managed his fitness regimen at his farmhouse and will begin practice after the lockdown is lifted. Everything now depends on how fast the situation returns to normalcy,” he concluded.