During the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL), former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag expressed his dismay over MS Dhoni’s uncharacteristic on-field actions. Known for his calm and composed demeanor, Dhoni’s rare display of anger stirred controversy and prompted calls for him to face a ban. The incident occurred during a league stage fixture between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR), where Dhoni vehemently protested a no-ball controversy.
In the 25th match of the IPL 2019 season, the encounter between CSK and RR reached a critical point. A no-ball controversy arose when the leg-umpire failed to call a waist-height no-ball. Frustrated by this decision, Dhoni stormed onto the field, leaving the cricket fraternity stunned. His actions drew widespread criticism, particularly from Virender Sehwag, who advocated for a harsher penalty.
Virender Sehwag, renowned for his aggressive batting during his playing days, opined that Dhoni deserved a more severe punishment. Sehwag suggested that a ban of two to three games would have been appropriate, emphasizing the need to deter similar behaviour from other captains. The former Indian opener raised concerns about the role of umpires and their authority if captains were allowed to intervene in such situations.
“I think Dhoni got off easy and ought to have been banned for at least two or three games,” Sehwag said. “Because if he did this, another captain may do the same thing tomorrow. So what does an umpire actually contribute?”
In response to his on-field outburst, Dhoni was fined 50 percent of his match fee. The monetary penalty served as a reminder of the importance of maintaining discipline and respecting the authority of match officials. Despite the backlash, Dhoni’s reputation as a calm and composed captain remained intact due to the isolated nature of this incident.
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Following the controversial match against RR, CSK went on to secure a victory thanks to a dramatic six by Mitchell Santner on the final delivery. Dhoni’s leadership guided CSK to the IPL 2019 final, where they faced the Mumbai Indians in a thrilling encounter. Unfortunately, CSK narrowly lost the final-ball thriller, preventing Dhoni from securing his sixth IPL title.
