The ever-loved MS Dhoni, for the first time in ages, faced criticism on social media for his refusal to take a single in the recent IPL 2024 match between CSK and PBKS in Chennai on May 1, 2024.
Sam Curran led Punjab Kings in Shikhar Dhawan's absence and won the toss, opting to bowl first on a two-paced surface in Chepauk. Ajinkya Rahane was CSK's first wicket, scoring 29 in 26 balls with five fours before being bowled by Harpreet Brar.
CSK was reduced to 70/3 in 10 overs, with Shivam Dube scoring a golden duck and Ravindra Jadeja making two. But Ruturaj Gaikwad persevered, scoring a magnificent 62 with five fours and two sixes. Impact sub-Sameer Rizvi scored 21 runs, while Moeen Ali (15) and MS Dhoni (14) helped CSK to a par 162/7 after 20 overs.
For PBKS, spinners Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar took two wickets each and did not concede a single boundary in their combined 8 overs.
However, during the last over of the CSK innings, MS Dhoni faced three dot balls in the 20th over bowled by Arshdeep Singh. After beginning the over with a boundary through the covers, Dhoni could not connect a couple of slower ones from the left-arm pacer.
When Arshdeep bowled the 3rd legal ball of the over, Dhoni hit the ball to covers, but to the surprise of many, didn’t respond to Daryl Mitchell’s call for a single. Mitchell comically ran all the way to the striker's end before he was sent back by MS Dhoni.
There was ample time for the two batters to take two runs, but Dhoni looked adamant about not giving the strike away in the final over.
Watch here:
Dhoni then failed to connect on the next delivery, but then hit a huge six to take CSK’s score past 160, but was run out on the last ball going for a second run.
However, Dhoni’s seemingly selfish act of refusing a single despite CSK looking for runs no matter how they come. Fans on social media couldn’t resist questioning the rationale behind Dhoni refusing Mitchell a single when New Zealand is a known big-hitter of the ball.
Here are some of the reactions:
