MS Dhoni, the legendary CSK cricketer, has finally talked about the controversy where he ran onto the field during an IPL match and argued with the umpires. This incident remains one of the few negative moments in Dhoni’s otherwise successful career.
MS Dhoni Reflects on the Controversial IPL 2019 Incident
Reflecting on the controversy after six years, MS Dhoni expressed regret and called it a “big mistake” in his career. He acknowledged that things became tense during that time and mentioned that it’s better to stay quiet to avoid such controversies.
At an event hosted by MasterCard, MS Dhoni was speaking with host Mandira Bedi. During their conversation, Dhoni reflected on the incident and explained that the stakes were very high at the time, which led him to walk onto the field and argue with the umpires.
“It happened in one of the IPL games, when I just walked on the field. That was a big mistake. But, other than that also, there have been instances where something gets triggered. We play a sport where the stakes are very high, you are supposed to win every game. You have to manage a lot of things,” Dhoni said.
Dhoni went on to explain the incident in more detail, stating that he should have stayed quiet in that moment since he was angry. He believes he should have handled the pressure better and advised everyone to avoid being emotional when making decisions.
“That’s why I said that when you’re slightly angry or frustrated, keep your mouth shut. Get away from it for a while, try taking deeper breaths. It’s quite similar to handling pressure. If you can cut yourself from the result aspect, it helps. Your emotions shouldn’t affect your decision-making,” he added.
Dhoni’s Return to IPL 2025: A New Role for CSK’s Iconic Player
In an IPL 2019 match between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings, CSK needed 18 runs to win off the last over bowled by Ben Stokes. Dhoni got out on the third ball, leaving Jadeja and Santner to finish the game. Stokes bowled a waist-high full toss on the fourth ball, which was called a no-ball by the on-field umpire.
However, the square-leg umpire didn’t agree, and the decision was overturned, causing confusion and frustration in the CSK camp.
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As a result, an angry MS Dhoni stormed onto the field to argue with the umpire. Despite his protests, the on-field umpires upheld their decision, and the ball was declared legal. Santner then hit the final ball for a six, leading CSK to victory.
Dhoni was later fined 50% of his match fees for violating the IPL’s Code of Conduct. He faced criticism from experts and former cricketers, making this incident one of the most controversial moments of his career.
Dhoni will return in IPL 2025 to play for Chennai Super Kings, but not as captain. He handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad just before IPL 2024.
ALSO READ: Updated IPL 2025 Squads: New Players, Captains, And Injury Replacements
