MS Dhoni, known for his unshakable calmness on the cricket field, is often associated with composure and level-headed leadership. The iconic wicketkeeper-batter has enjoyed immense success as the captain of India and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), earning a near-legendary status in the sport. However, even the most composed athletes occasionally display their emotions, and Dhoni is no exception. One such rare moment of frustration came during a high-stakes IPL match, as recounted by his former teammate Harbhajan Singh.
This emotional outburst occurred during Dhoni’s last appearance in the IPL, in a critical group-stage match between CSK and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. It was a game with significant implications for the playoff race, and RCB, against all odds, managed to edge out CSK to claim the final playoff spot in a dramatic fashion.
RCB’s victory celebration, which took a few moments longer than usual, seemed to have triggered Dhoni’s rare display of frustration. Harbhajan Singh, who was commentating during the match, revealed that Dhoni punched a screen on his way to the dressing room, visibly upset with the turn of events.
“RCB were celebrating their victory, and rightly so, considering the remarkable win they had just secured,” Harbhajan recalled in an interview with Sports Yaari. “I was watching from the commentary box, and I saw CSK players lined up to shake hands with RCB. But it took a while for RCB to finish their celebrations, and during that time, Dhoni walked off and punched a screen before reaching the dressing room. It’s understandable—these things happen in the heat of sports.”
Harbhajan emphasized that RCB had every right to celebrate their achievement. They had defied the odds by winning five consecutive games after suffering a poor start in the tournament, and their victory over CSK secured them an improbable playoff spot.
“Even if they took a few minutes longer to celebrate, it’s their right. Dhoni walking off like that was his way of processing the situation. Perhaps at that moment, he felt that his dream of leading CSK to another IPL title and possibly retiring with the trophy had slipped away,” Harbhajan explained.
The context of the match added to the emotional intensity. RCB, after a dismal first half of the season, needed to win that final game by a significant margin to overtake CSK in the standings. Powered by explosive performances from Virat Kohli (47 off 29) and Faf du Plessis (54 off 39), along with strong finishes by Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik, and Glenn Maxwell, RCB posted a formidable 218/5.
CSK, on the other hand, could have still qualified for the playoffs even if they lost, provided they scored more than 200 runs to maintain a superior net run rate. However, RCB’s bowlers managed to restrict CSK to 191/7, sealing their place in the playoffs and leaving CSK on the outside looking in.
Dhoni’s reaction that day serves as a reminder that even the most composed individuals can be overcome by the pressures of high-stakes competition. His rare display of emotion only underscores his deep commitment to the game and the weight of the expectations that come with leading a franchise like CSK.
