May 19, 2024: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni left the pitch early after CSK’s loss against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Saturday, May 18. The match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium turned out to be a memorable encounter in the IPL 2024 season.
CSK needed just 17 runs to qualify for the playoffs in the final over, even if that came at the cost of losing the game. However, the trio of MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shardul Thakur failed to hit RCB’s Yash Dayal for boundaries. Dayal gave away just 7 runs in the final over, clinching an incredible win for RCB. With this victory, RCB qualified for the IPL playoffs with 14 points to their name.
After the conclusion of the match, Dhoni opted not to shake hands with the RCB team, which shocked fans watching at the stadium. Dhoni, who was expected to call time on his career after CSK’s loss in their final group-stage game, was visibly upset with himself. He got out in the second ball of the final over, just after hitting a massive 110-meter six against Yash Dayal. Dhoni, batting at 25 off just 12 balls, got caught at deep square leg after top-edging a slower delivery from the RCB pacer.
IPL Controversy Erupts: MS Dhoni’s Post-Match Move Leaves Fans Divided
As the CSK players lined up to shake hands with the RCB team, Dhoni walked up to the front but decided to walk back instead. He shook hands only with the RCB staff before leaving the ground. Fans expressed their disappointment on social media, as Dhoni’s behavior was unexpected from such a star and senior cricketer.
Despite the loss, the match provided a heartwarming moment when Dhoni and RCB captain Virat Kohli shared an incredible bond on and off the field. Kohli and Dhoni, once teammates in the Indian team, put aside their rivalry, leaving fans in a frenzy.
In an earlier IPL 2024 match, Dhoni had rolled back the years with a stunning underarm run-out against RCB, getting the MA Chidambaram Stadium crowd on its feet. However, this recent incident has sparked discussions about Dhoni’s captaincy and behavior on the field.
