MS Dhoni’s Rare Outburst: A Moment of Frustration in CSK’s Early IPL Days
Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Subramaniam Badrinath has shed light on a rare instance where Mahendra Singh Dhoni lost his composure during a match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the early years of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
In an interview with InsideSport, Badrinath recalled a low-scoring game at Chepauk where CSK, chasing a modest target of 110 runs, suffered a shocking defeat. Captain Dhoni, renowned for his calm and collected demeanor, displayed visible frustration after this unexpected loss.
“In this match against RCB in Chennai, we were chasing 110 odd runs. We lost wickets in a hurry and we ended up losing the match. It was one of those matches where we couldn’t get 110 against RCB in Chepauk,” Badrinath recounted.
Badrinath further described an incident in the dressing room after he was dismissed by RCB spinner Anil Kumble. “I got out to a lap shot against Anil Kumble. I got myself LBW. He (MS Dhoni) was coming inside the dressing room and I was standing right there. And there was a small water bottle in front of me and MS just kicked it out of the park and I was oh my god! We were all trying to avoid eye contact with him in that dressing room,” Badrinath added.
Despite this rare outburst, Dhoni’s leadership is widely credited for guiding CSK to five IPL titles, establishing him as one of the most celebrated captains in cricket. Badrinath, who played for CSK from 2008 to 2013, scored 1441 runs in 95 matches, including 11 half-centuries.
