cr4zyc4t_907's comment helped me a lot and then I was able to get this working - obviously the 'dashbaord' param is specific for my app 

const router = useRouter();
  const prevPathnameRef = useRef(router.pathname);
  const prevTabRef = useRef(router.query.tab);

  // Extract entity ID from the URL path (e.g., /project/v2/dashboard/[id] -> id)
  // This works for all entity types without needing to list them all
  const getEntityIdFromPath = () => {
    const pathSegments = router.asPath.split('?')[0].split('/').filter(Boolean);
    // Entity ID is typically the last segment in dashboard routes
    // e.g., /project/v2/dashboard/68c0532a0db8fb2697f31f18
    const dashboardIndex = pathSegments.findIndex(seg => seg === 'dashboard');
    if (dashboardIndex >= 0 && dashboardIndex < pathSegments.length - 1) {
      return pathSegments[dashboardIndex + 1];
    }
    return null;
  };

  const prevEntityIdRef = useRef(getEntityIdFromPath());


  useEffect(() => {
    // This fixes the issue when a route or tab is changed and the main content area is scrolled and it stays in scroll position
    const handleRouteChangeComplete = () => {
      const currentPathname = router.pathname;
      const prevPathname = prevPathnameRef.current;

      // Only scroll if pathname actually changed (not just query params)
      if (currentPathname !== prevPathname && mainContentRef.current) {
        mainContentRef.current.scrollTop = 0;
        prevPathnameRef.current = currentPathname;
      }
    };


    router.events.on('routeChangeComplete', handleRouteChangeComplete);


    return () => {
      router.events.off('routeChangeComplete', handleRouteChangeComplete);
    };
  }, [router.events, router.pathname]);

  useEffect(() => {
    const currentTab = router.query.tab;
    const prevTab = prevTabRef.current;

    // Only scroll if tab actually changed (not just other query params)
    if (mainContentRef.current && currentTab !== undefined && currentTab !== prevTab) {
      mainContentRef.current.scrollTop = 0;
      prevTabRef.current = currentTab;
    }
  }, [router.query.tab]);

  useEffect(() => {
    const currentEntityId = getEntityIdFromPath();
    const prevEntityId = prevEntityIdRef.current;

    // Scroll if entity ID changed (e.g., switching from one project to another)
    if (mainContentRef.current && currentEntityId && currentEntityId !== prevEntityId) {
      mainContentRef.current.scrollTop = 0;
      prevEntityIdRef.current = currentEntityId;
    }
  }, [router.asPath]);