During his time as India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain, M.S. Dhoni acquired the reputation of being Captain Cool. However, in the heat of battle of an IPL match, even the most placid of characters can lose their composure.
And that was certainly the case with him during a match with the Rajasthan Royals in 2019.
Going into the final over of the match, Chennai needed 18 to win. Ben Stokes bowled Dhoni off the third ball, which brought Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner together.
Stokes then bowled a high full toss to Santner. Umpire Ulhas Gandhe immediately signalled a no ball, but only to change his mind after consulting with square-leg umpire Bruce Oxenford.
As Santner and Jadeja began arguing with the umpires, it did not take long for Dhoni to get involved. He walked back on to the field from the dugout and confronted both umpires, demanding to know why they had reversed the original decision.
It was eventually ruled a legal delivery, although television replays revealed a waist-high no ball.
In the end it did not affect the outcome of the match, because Santner had the last laugh. He smashed the last ball for six to help Chennai win. Dhoni was named Player of the Match for his 43-ball 58, an innings that included three sixes and two fours.
That was not the end of the incident, however. Dhoni was docked 50% of his match fee for barging onto the field of play and confronting the umpires in an aggressive fashion. Perhaps feeling mellower after his team’s victory, Dhoni agreed that he had been in the wrong, and accepted the sanction.
The incident has direct parallels with what happened recently in the match between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals this season, in which Delhi captain Rishabh Pant was fined 100% of his match fee and assistant coach Pravin Amre received a one-match ban after a similar no-ball controversy.