MS Dhoni did not break anything: Chennai fielding coach rubbishes RCB v CSK rumours

Chennai Super Kings fielding coach Tommy Simsek called out reports that claimed MS Dhoni broke a television set in the dressing room after CS lost to RCB in IPL 2024.

In Short

• MS Dhoni was visibily upset after CSK's loss to RCB in a crucial IPL 2024 game
• A few reports claimed MS Dhoni broke a television set in anger after the game
• CSK were denied entry to the playoffs by RCB after the thriller in Bengaluru

Chennai Super Kings fielding coach Tommy Simsek dismissed reports suggesting that MS Dhoni broke a television in the dressing room following the team's loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a crucial league match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Simsek emphasized that he has never witnessed Dhoni displaying such animation after an IPL game during his time with the five-time champions.

A few media reports claimed MS Dhoni was frustrated after Chennai Super Kings missed out on an opportunity to reach the play-offs following their loss to RCB in a thriller and punched a television screen en route to the dressing room.

"This is absolute Rubbish! MSD did not break anything and I have never seen him aggressive after any match. Fake news!" Simsek said in a reply to an Instagram post.

In the crucial encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 18, RCB emerged victorious by 27 runs, securing their spot in the playoffs and eliminating CSK from the competition.

MS Dhoni was visibly gutted after failing to finish the game for the Super Kings in their chase of 201 in a rain-affected encounter.

Dhoni hit 25 off 13 balls, including a six in the first delivery of the final over bowled by Yash Dayal. CSK needed 17 runs in the final over and with Dhoni in the middle, their fans were hopeful of another miraculous finish. However, Dhoni got out in the very second delivery of the over, failing to clear the leg-side boundary.

The post-match scenes were marred by controversy when MS Dhoni was seen walking away without shaking hands with the RCB players, who celebrated the memorable victory on the field.

The handshake saga divided opinion on social media with several questioning why MS Dhoni hadn't waited for the RCB players to finish their on-field celebration. On the other hand, a few defended Dhoni, questioning whether RCB should have delayed their celebration to complete the customary post-match routines.

World Cup-winning Harbhajan Singh, a former teammate of Dhoni, revealed in an interview with Sports Yaari that Dhoni's frustration did not end with his departure from the field. Singh claimed that Dhoni punched a TV screen kept outside the CSK dressing room.

Dhoni was widely expected to retire from the IPL after the end of the 2024 season. However, the former World Cup-winning captain has remained tight-lipped about his future. With IPL announcing retentions rules, which include the revived uncapped player rule, it is likely that Dhoni might return to play for the Super Kings in IPL 2025.