In a rare revelation, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has shared an incident where the ever-calm MS Dhoni lost his temper after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were knocked out of the IPL 2024 playoffs by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The intense virtual knockout match saw RCB win by 27 runs, crushing CSK's hopes of advancing.

Speaking on Sports Yaari, Harbhajan Singh recalled the post-match scenes that surprised many fans of Dhoni, who is widely known for his calm demeanor. The match, a must-win for RCB, saw the Bangalore side celebrating wildly after their playoff berth was confirmed, but it was the aftermath that created headlines.

“RCB were celebrating, and they deserved it because of the way they won,” Harbhajan recalled. “I was watching the whole scene from above because I was present there. CSK had lined up to shake hands, but RCB was a little late due to their celebration. By the time RCB finished, Dhoni had already gone inside.”

The former CSK bowler revealed that Dhoni’s emotions got the better of him. “Dressing room se pehle jo screen hai, uspe mukka bhi maara (he punched a screen outside the dressing room),” Harbhajan shared, adding, “It’s okay; these things happen when emotions are high, especially after a big win or loss.”

Harbhajan further explained that the delay from RCB may have triggered Dhoni’s reaction. “It’s their right to celebrate (referring to RCB), even if they take three minutes. But maybe Dhoni wasn’t calm that day, especially since his dream of retiring with another IPL trophy was shattered.”