'He wasted time to allow his....' - Throwback to when former ICC umpire Daryl Harper's huge accusation on MS Dhoni during IPL 2023 stunned fans

Former legendary Indian Cricket team captainMS Dhoni has faced a lot of criticism in his career for various reasons. However, in IPL 2023's Qualifier 1 between GT and CSK, Dhoni was accused of wasting time while arguing with the umpires to get Mathisha Pathirana to bowl in the 16th over of the game. Since the bowler was out of the field for nine minutes, he wasn't allowed to bowl in the first place. However, while having a discussion with the umpire, four minutes went by and the bowler was finally allowed to bowl. 

This move by Dhoni didn't sit well with a lot of people, and his 'Spirit of Cricket' was questioned. The former ICC Elite Panel umpire Daryl Harper didn't like the way the former CSK skipper handled the situation, accusing him of wasting time and not respecting the game of cricket. 

Harper intended to create awareness about how Dhoni functioned during the game since the young generation follow his every move. He said, "Dhoni wasted time to allow his preferred bowling option to deliver the vital 16th over. That’s the only conclusion that I can draw from that disappointing spectacle. The issue for me is the lack of respect shown for the spirit of cricket and for the directions of the umpires. There were other [bowling] options for the captain, but they were ignored. Maybe, some people are bigger than the law or in this case, the spirit of cricket."

Is MS Dhoni's participation in IPL 2025 in doubt?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to make an official announcement on the upcoming policies of the IPL 2025, which will decide the future of MS Dhoni in the Chennai Super Kings squad. While Dhoni has been an asset to the team, his age, and fitness are the team's concerns; hence, they will keep everything in mind before going for his retention. 

Since Ruturaj Gaikwad is the skipper now, CSK will have to find a replacement for Dhoni in the middle order who can bat and do wicket-keeping at the same time. Moreover, this is a mega auction, so the franchise will have to make a long-term investment in players. Retaining MS will not be a safer option and the former skipper acknowledges this face. Hence, until the Board releases an official statement, Dhoni's participation will remain in doubt.