Legendary MS Dhoni is widely regarded as one of cricket's greatest captains, renowned not only for his exceptional leadership and achievements with the Indian team and Chennai Super Kings but also for his calm and composed demeanor. However, a surprising revelation from Ravichandran Ashwin sheds light on a rare instance when the usually unflappable Dhoni lost his temper. During India's tour of South Africa in 2011, Ashwin shared a previously untold story involving Dhoni and former Indian pacer Sreesanth. The incident took place during an ODI match in Port Elizabeth where both Ashwin and Sreesanth were not part of the playing XI. Ashwin, who was responsible for fetching water for the team, unintentionally became a catalyst for Dhoni's outburst towards Sreesanth.
When MS Dhoni lost cool on Sreesanth
Dhoni was visibly upset with Sreesanth for socialising with the other reserve players. The incident escalated to the point where Dhoni instructed team manager Ranjib Biwal to directly tell Sreesanth to leave the match venue and return home.
"I take water. MS drinks. Two overs later, I take more. He drinks more. Then again. I have carried more water for MS than anyone else. When I go in for the drink break, MS asks, ‘Where is Sree?' "It is possibly the most neutral way of asking a question. It is also the MS way. You just can't make out why he is asking. I don't know what to tell him because I don't know what it might lead to. MS insists on finding out.
"I tell him Sree is upstairs in the dressing room. He tells me to tell Sree he has to come down and sit with the other reserves. Anyway, on the way back from the drinks break, I am wondering how, while keeping wicket in an international match, MS even noticed that Sree was not sitting downstairs. I go back and tell M. Vijay, who is in his cooling glasses with his feet up on another chair," wrote Ashwin in his book 'I Have The Streets - A Kutty Cricket Story'
‘Hey, Monk, MS asked Sree to come down." Monk tells me, ‘Hey, you go and tell him. Don't expect me to do that.' "......I go into the changing room and I tell him, ‘Sree, MS wants you to come down.' ‘Why? You can't carry water?' responds Sreesanth. "I tell him I didn't say anything. He said he wants you to come down. He said the reserves should be together for the game. Sree says, ‘Okay, you go. I will come.' "I return to my drink duties. The next time I have to go with a helmet," Ashwin added.
Ashwin admitted that he he never saw Dhoni that furious.
“This time I can sense MS is angry, and I have never seen him lose his cool,” Ashwin said.
"Where is Sree? What is he doing?' MS asks sternly." "I tell him he is getting a massage. MS doesn't say anything. In the next over, he calls me to return the helmet. He is calm now. While giving me the helmet, he says, ‘Do one thing. Go to Ranjib sir. Tell him Sree is not interested in being here. Ask him to book his ticket for tomorrow so he can go back to India. I am stunned. I'm not sure what to say. I am just staring at his face. MS goes, ‘What happened? You don't understand English either now?," Ashwin continued.
Ashwin noted that Dhoni's stern approach had an immediate impact. Sreesanth promptly left his seat and resumed his water-carrying duties. Dhoni then verified with Ashwin if he had conveyed his message to the team manager.
"Sree quickly gets up and gets dressed. Not only that, but now he assumes the drinks duties. The next time MS needs a drink, Sree makes sure he charges out. Instead of taking the drink from him, MS motions for me to come over. ‘Did you tell Ranjib sir or not?' he asks me. "MS and Sree sort it out later, but during that period I am caught in a situation in which I would ideally be laughing but am too scared to do so," said Ashwin.
Interestingly, a few months later, both Sreesanth and Ashwin were part of the Indian squad that clinched the 2011 World Cup under Dhoni's leadership.
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