In the backdrop of the ongoing farmer's protest in the country, an image has surfaced on social media showing former Indian Cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on a tractor claiming that he has extended his support for the tractor rally that has been announced by the agitating farmers to be held on the Republic Day, i.e, 26 January. 

A Facebook user shared the image with a caption in Hindi that can be roughly translated to, "#Mahendra Singh Dhoni, former captain of India's cricket team, supported #KisanTector Parade !!# Kisan Movement .. Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Now #BJP illiterate blind devotees will also declare Dhoni as traitor and anti-Hindu."

Several other Facebook users have also shared this image with a similar caption. 

The image is also doing rounds on Twitter with a similar claim.

The truth behind the claim 

In our investigation, we found this claim to be misleading. The image is from June 2020 and is not related to the ongoing farmers' protest.

With the help of reverse image search, we found this image carried in a tweet that was used in a news report by Aaj Tak on June 8, 2020

A video was shared by the Chennai Super Kings official page on also tweeted a video on 2 June 2020 in which Dhoni can be seen driving the same tractor on the road. This viral image is also from the same time. 

According to reports, after retirement, Mahi has started organic farming at his farmhouse in Ranchi. A few days ago there was news that the vegetables of Dhoni's farmhouse would be sold in Dubai markets too. The Agriculture Department of Jharkhand has taken its responsibility.

Moreover, we did not find any credible report that Dhoni has supported farmers' protest or tractor rally. 

In conclusion, an old-unrelated image of showing MS Dhoni on the tractor is being shared with a misleading claim that the former Indian Cricket team captain has extended his support for a tractor rally that will be carried out by agitating farmers on Republic Day, i.e, January 26.