Former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni was appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador for the Pune Grand Tour 2026, India's first UCI-recognised multi-stage professional road cycling race. The five-day international event spans 437 km across Maharashtra's Deccan Plateau and Sahyadri Range.

The race is expected to attract professional cycling teams from across the world, marking a milestone in India's sports diversification beyond cricket. The UCI recognition puts the event on the global professional cycling calendar. Maharashtra government and local authorities collaborated to develop the infrastructure for the route.