MS Dhoni’s Rare Outburst: A Breach of the IPL Code of Conduct
MS Dhoni, renowned for his composure under pressure, rarely succumbs to emotional outbursts. However, during the 2019 IPL season, fans witnessed a rare moment when his calm demeanor shattered. In a match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), Dhoni’s frustration boiled over due to a controversial no-ball call, leading to a breach of the IPL Code of Conduct.
Former CSK teammate and current Gujarat Titans pacer Mohit Sharma recently shed light on this unusual incident on the “2 Sloggers” podcast. Recalling the event, Mohit revealed that Dhoni was already furious after getting out and was sitting in the dugout when the drama unfolded. In the final over of the match, Ben Stokes bowled a high full toss to Mitchell Santner, which appeared to be a no-ball. The umpire at square leg initially raised his arm to signal it, but quickly retracted the call, deciding it wasn’t a no-ball.
This reversal of decision enraged Dhoni, who stormed onto the field to confront the umpires. “We were in the dugout, shouting, ‘Don’t go, don’t go.’ But he didn’t even look back. The way he walked onto the field, (laga ki bhai sher ghus gaya hai) it felt like a lion had entered the arena,” Mohit recalled.
Despite his teammates’ efforts to hold him back, Dhoni’s frustration got the best of him as he fiercely contested the call. “He had just got out and was already furious. He wanted to be in there because generally, he doesn’t leave it to others. He came, sat and all of a sudden, the incident happened. He asked, ‘Did he (the umpire) give it a no-ball?’ We were like, ‘Yeah, he did signal.’ Then he just didn’t stop,” he added.
Dhoni’s outburst led to a fine of 50% of his match fees for violating the IPL Code of Conduct, marking one of the few instances where he allowed his emotions to boil over.
