Tommy Simsek, the fielding coach of Chennai Super Kings, has dismissed recent reports suggesting that MS Dhoni damaged a television in the dressing room following the team's loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a crucial IPL 2024 match.
Simsek denies Dhoni's alleged outburst in IPL 2024
Simsek emphatically stated that he has never observed Dhoni exhibit such behavior after an IPL game during his tenure with the five-time champions.
Several media outlets had reported that Dhoni was visibly upset after Chennai Super Kings' missed opportunity to qualify for the playoffs due to their defeat against RCB. The reports claimed that Dhoni, in a moment of frustration, punched a television screen as he made his way 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.
Talking about the match, Royal Challengers Bengaluru eked out a thrilling 27-run win, securing their spot in the playoffs and eliminating Chennai Super Kings from the IPL 2024 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 18. MS Dhoni was visibly upset after CSK's defeat, having failed to finish the game for the Super Kings in their chase of 201 runs. Dhoni contributed 25 runs off 13 balls, including a six in the first delivery of the final over bowled by Yash Dayal. With Dhoni at the crease and CSK needing 17 runs in the final over, fans were hopeful for a miraculous comeback. However, Dhoni's dismissal in the second delivery of the over dashed those hopes, as he failed to clear the leg-side boundary.
The post-match scenes were overshadowed by controversy when MS Dhoni was seen walking away without shaking hands with the RCB players, who were celebrating their memorable victory on the field. This unusual behavior sparked discussions and speculation among fans and commentators.
When Dhoni's post-match behavior sparked debate
The handshake saga between MS Dhoni and the RCB players after the IPL 2024 match divided opinion on social media. Many questioned Dhoni's decision to leave the field without waiting for RCB to complete their celebration. However, some defended Dhoni, arguing that RCB could have delayed their celebration to allow for 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 extended beyond his departure from the field. Singh claimed that Dhoni, in a moment of anger, punched a TV screen kept outside the CSK dressing room.
