MS Dhoni has built a legendary reputation for staying calm under pressure, earning the iconic “Captain Cool” tag throughout his remarkable career. However, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently revealed one rare moment when Dhoni appeared visibly annoyed on the cricket field after an over-the-top celebration during the Challenger Trophy.
Speaking on JioStar, Ashwin recalled how desperate he was to impress the Chennai Super Kings management in the early stages of his IPL journey. At the time, CSK already had the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan in their squad, limiting Ashwin’s opportunities to break into the playing XI regularly.
“Muralitharan was in the team, a legend, bowling his full quota, so I wasn’t getting chances,” Ravichandran Ashwin explained while reflecting on his early IPL struggles. The off-spinner revealed that things changed during the Challenger Trophy when he finally got the opportunity to bowl to Dhoni. In one of those moments, Dhoni mistimed a shot towards deep cover, and Ashwin completed a diving catch before celebrating wildly.
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“I celebrated it so much that he actually got annoyed,” Ravichandran Ashwin recalled with a smile. According to Ashwin, Dhoni immediately questioned the exaggerated reaction. “He was like, ‘What’s there to celebrate so much?’ I told him, ‘Getting your wicket was my dream. Maybe this will open a door for me in CSK,’” Ashwin said.
Interestingly, Ashwin’s prediction eventually came true, as he soon became a crucial part of CSK’s golden era between 2010 and 2015. The veteran spinner credited the franchise’s success not only to star players but also to the strong support system and dressing-room culture created by the management.
Ravichandran Ashwin praised domestic stars like Murali Vijay, S Badrinath, and Shadab Jakati for playing underrated but important roles in CSK’s dominance during that period. He also highlighted how the franchise took care of players off the field by handling travel, accommodation, and family arrangements professionally, allowing cricketers to focus purely on performance.
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Ashwin, India’s second-highest Test wicket-taker with 537 wickets, officially retired from international cricket in December 2024. He admitted that returning to CSK later in his IPL career carried deep emotional value because he wanted to finish his journey with the franchise where it all began.
The veteran spinner also revealed his unfulfilled dream of ending his IPL career at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, a venue he described as extremely close to his heart because of the countless memories attached to it.
