Legendary Indian wicketkeeper-batsman and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon MS Dhoni is preparing for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026). The five-time champions retained MS Dhoni while dropping Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran were traded to Rajasthan Royals (RR) as Sanju Samson joined Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the next edition. While Ruturaj Gaikwad will remain the CSK captain in the next edition, Dhoni is training hard for what is possibly his final season in the IPL.
Deepak Chahar recalls a hot moment with MS Dhoni in Bigg Boss 19
Amid the preparations for IPL 2026, one of the CSK legend’s close associates has revealed an incident that left an indelible impression on him and spoke about Dhoni’s unique yet tough leadership style.
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During a recent appearance on Bigg Boss 19, former CSK fast bowler Deepak Chahar shared an unforgettable, warm moment from his early IPL days involving Dhoni. The Indian bowler entered the reality show during family week to support his sister Malti Chahar.
During the discussion, Chahar recalled the high-pressure 2019 IPL game between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings in Chennai. In that match, Chahar was bowling in the death overs for the first time. Punjab needed 39 runs from 12 balls, Sarfaraz Khan was present at the crease.
When MS Dhoni scolded Deepak Chahar after two no balls
The plan was to bowl a slower ball outside leg stump to counter Sarfaraz’s scoop shots, but Chahar’s execution immediately went wrong. His first ball of the 19th over was a no-ball which went for five runs and the next ball was another no-ball. The situation put CSK under immense pressure and Chahar felt the importance of the moment.
Deepak Chahar said on the show, “I was bowling in the death overs for the first time in that match. Sarfaraz Khan was batting. We had planned what to bowl to him. Sarfaraz plays scoop shots. So, if you bowl him a slow ball, it is difficult to hit.”
So, I bowled a leg-cutter outside the leg stump. My foot got stuck and it was a full toss. The match was tense. It was a no-ball and also went for the boundary. I thought the plan was right, but the execution was wrong. So, I bowled the same ball again and it was a no-ball again.
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How MS Dhoni’s tough leadership turned Deepak Chahar’s over into a match-winner
At that time, MS Dhoni lost his cool as Chahar revealed that the former CSK captain had scolded him. However, Dhoni told Chahar that the mistake was not entirely his fault. This small act of leadership helped Chahar concentrate, and then the seamer managed to calm himself and execute the next few balls perfectly.
He gave away only five more runs in that over and also took a wicket, swinging the momentum back in CSK’s favor against Punjab. CSK eventually defended 160/3 to win the match by 22 runs and Chahar finished with figures of 1/40 in four overs.
Chahar said, “I thought my death bowling career was over. Mahi Bhai came and told me some angry things. He said, ‘You are not an idiot, I am an idiot. I thought I would never get a chance to bowl again and I was listening with my head down. But in the next five or six balls, I gave only five runs and also took one wicket and we won the game.’
Deepak Chahar is telling Bigg Boss contestants how MS Dhoni scolded him for bowling two consecutive no-balls. pic.twitter.com/mIo8YFClOb
—` (@WorshipDhoni) 23 November 2025
