IPL 2023: MS Dhoni accused of 'lack of respect' for 'spirit of the game' by former umpire

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Former ICC umpire Daryl Harper has denounced Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni for not respecting the spirit of the game in their IPL 2023 Qualifier 1 match against Gujarat Titans.

MS Dhoni's CSK faced Gujarat Titans in the Qualifier 1 on Tuesday (May 23) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. And Harper has pointed out an incident in the match which he believes Dhoni manipulated for his advantage.

Ahead of the 16th over of the GT batting, CSK bowler Matheesha Pathirana was out of the field for nine minutes. In cricket's rule, any player off the field for more than eight minutes will have to spend the same amount of time on the field before bowling.

But Dhoni wanted to bowl Pathirana just after five minutes after the Sri Lankan bowler's arrival, hence he indulged himself into a conversation for around four minutes to eat up the time. Hence Pathirana could bowl the 16th over and was able to complete his four-over spell.

And Harper believes the CSK captain wasted time on purpose to tick the clock so that Pathirana could bowl the full quota of his overs.

MS Dhoni showed lack of respect: Harper

"Of course MS Dhoni wasted time to allow his preferred bowling option to deliver the vital sixteenth over. That's the only conclusion that I can draw from that disappointing spectacle," Harper said.

"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 options for the captain but they were ignored.

Maybe some people are bigger than the law or in this case the Spirit of cricket. It's always disappointing to see the lengths that some people will go to in order to win," the Australian umpire added.

The former umpire also cited an incident which occurred in a Test match between India and South Africa. Sachin Tendulkar couldn't bat due to the time clock, and his immediate next VVS Laxman was taking a shower unknowing of that stipulation. Hence Sourav Ganguly had to immediately put on his gloves and pads to come out to bat.

Then India captain Rahul Dravid was at the non-striker end and Harper says the standard of cricket was different back then.

"Stalling for time was not an option for Dravid, however I don't believe it was a tactic he would have ever considered. It just wasn't cricket and there were standards in that era", Harper concluded.