The Soundtrack of Childhood: Tuning In to Their Emotional Landscape
May 23, 2025By Meera Iyer
MS Dhoni is known for many things—his lightning stumpings, cool-as-a-cucumber demeanor, and the ability to win matches even when the odds are down to the wire. But off the pitch, there’s another title he wears just as quietly but just as powerfully: Dad.
So here’s the big question every parent wonders: Can Dhoni’s famous “trust the process” philosophy actually work in parenting too?
Yes. And Ziva, his daughter, might just be the proof.
Read this article to know about Dhoni’s parenting style and how you can mirror the same.
What Is “The Process”?
In Dhoni’s world, “The Process” is a mindset. It means focusing on the work, not the result. It means not obsessing over what’s out of your control. It’s the calm in chaos, the discipline when things fall apart, and the quiet commitment to keep showing up—even when nobody is watching.
Now think about parenting.
No one claps when you pack lunch at 6 a.m., or when you calmly deal with a meltdown at bedtime. But those small, steady choices? That’s your process. And like Dhoni, you’re playing the long game.
Ziva and the Calm Within the Storm
Ziva Dhoni has been in the public eye since she was a toddler. Whether she’s humming a tune in five languages or stealing the spotlight in post-match selfies, she’s already shown the world she’s got confidence, kindness, and clarity.
But it’s not just genetics. It’s parenting.
Dhoni and his wife, Sakshi, seem to be raising Ziva without the pressure of fame. There’s no rush, no spotlight choreography. Ziva isn’t being paraded as a “star kid.” She’s just allowed to be. And that freedom? That’s part of Dhoni’s process.
He’s said it before—he doesn’t want to push his child in any direction. “Let her be what she wants to be,” he told an interviewer. That right there is the essence of modern parenting: providing stability, not scripts.
How Dhoni’s Captaincy Mirrors His Parenting
Find out below how Dhoni actually captains his parenting journey.
- Staying Calm in Chaos: When Dhoni led India to victory during those nail-biting finals, he barely broke a sweat. Parenting is full of pressure moments too—tantrums, school struggles, identity crises. But Dhoni’s calm approach reminds us that reacting less often brings out better results. (Even if your inner voice is screaming.)
- Backing Your Team (Even When They’re Losing): Dhoni was known for backing players others had written off. As a parent, backing your child—especially when they’re stumbling—is the ultimate show of belief. It teaches resilience more than any motivational speech ever could.
- Letting Go at the Right Time: Dhoni was never one to hog the limelight. He passed the baton of captaincy quietly, knowing when it was time to step back. Parenting? It’s knowing when to guide and when to let go. Even if letting go means watching them fall a little before they rise.
Parenting the Dhoni Way: Some Practical Tips You Need To Know
Here’s what you need to know about how you can parent your child just like Dhoni does.
- Trust the process, even when it’s slow. Don’t rush milestones. Like Dhoni, focus on doing the little things right, every single day.
- Stay present, not perfect. You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to be there—with patience and presence.
- Raise a child, not a résumé. The world may push for perfection and early achievement. But Dhoni’s parenting suggests something more radical: raise a good human, not just a successful one.
Conclusion
Parenting doesn’t come with trophies. No man-of-the-match awards. No roaring stadiums.
And if you lead your family like Dhoni—calm in pressure, committed to the process, and always backing your little team—then years from now, when your child faces the world with confidence and kindness, you’ll know you won.
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