Chennai Super Kings (CSK) physio Tommy Simsek has firmly denied rumors that MS Dhoni punched a screen in frustration following the team’s loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their final match of the 2024 IPL season. Dhoni’s former teammate, Harbhajan Singh, recently claimed in an interview with Sports Yaari that he saw Dhoni punch a screen outside the dressing room after the defeat.
The match held significant stakes for CSK, who needed to chase down 201 runs in 20 overs to secure a playoff spot. Dhoni, at the crease in the final over, hit a massive six off the first ball, leaving 17 needed off five balls. However, he was dismissed on the next delivery by Yash Dayal, and CSK ultimately fell short by nine runs.
Harbhajan’s account claimed that after the match, Dhoni walked off the field without shaking hands with RCB players, who were still celebrating their win. Harbhajan said, “By the time Team RCB finished their celebration, Dhoni went inside and punched a screen outside the dressing room.”
Responding to this, Tommy Simsek took to Instagram to refute the allegations, calling them “absolute rubbish.” He added, “MSD did not break anything, and I have never seen him aggressive after any match. Fake news!”
MS Dhoni’s Uncertain Future for IPL 2025
CSK’s loss to RCB meant they were unable to defend their 2023 title, remaining tied with Mumbai Indians at five IPL championships. As discussions about the IPL 2025 season intensify, speculation surrounds whether Dhoni will return to CSK.
Under the new retention rules, Dhoni could be retained as an uncapped player for ₹4 crores, as he hasn’t played international cricket for over five years. However, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan stated that no decision has been made yet, saying, “We haven’t had discussions with him… Dhoni was in the US, and we are hopeful of him playing, but it’s a call Dhoni will himself make.”
Despite CSK’s early exit, Dhoni was in impressive form during the 2024 season, scoring 161 runs with an average of 53.66 and a strike rate of over 220.
