'When MS Dhoni walked onto the field, I knew trouble is on its way' - CSK star recalls former India captain's no-ball controversy in IPL 2019

Published - 05 Sept 2025, 21:31 IST | Updated - 05 Sept 2025, 23:06 IST

The legendary MS Dhoni has always stood out with his exemplary ability to remain calm and composed in pressure situations. However, during a clash between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 11, 2019, the wicketkeeper-batter couldn't control his anger after a botched no-ball call from the on-field umpires at a critical juncture.

During the final over of the game, Ben Stokes bowled a high full-toss to Mitchell Santner. The leg-umpire initially signalled a no-ball before deeming it to be a fair delivery. The sudden change of decision infuriated Dhoni, and he barged onto the ground to get an explanation from the officials. Play was halted for a few minutes as the umpires tried to reason with the former India skipper.

Current CSK player Shreyas Gopal, who was representing the Royals in that clash, recalled how there was pin-drop silence when Dhoni entered the field.

"I was at fine-leg actually, so he just walked past like that. I knew trouble is on its way. If someone has to walk in, especially him being probably the coolest and calmest cricketer, if he has to walk in, then there's something that has really bothered him or not right. If you look at it, probably the only time when Mahi bhai walked in, there was absolute pin-drop silence and no one spoke. The only time I saw him walk into a field and everyone was quiet," he said (via CSK's YouTube channel).

Gopal picked his scintillating hat-trick against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2019 as his standout moment in the cash-rich league.

"The standout (in IPL) is my hat-trick against RCB. That moment, it really told me that you can really do well at this level and the confidence just went two notches higher. At the end of the day, cricket is so much of a confidence game. Your form is so much of a confidence thing," he said.

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Gopal has played 52 IPL matches so far. He has accounted for 52 wickets at an average of 25.92 and an economy rate of 8.16. The 32-year-old was a part of the CSK squad this season but didn't get a game.