IPL 2019: Bishan Bedi aghast with MS Dhoni’s act in no-ball saga against RR

Dhoni was also accused of setting up a bad precedent on the ground.

Published - 12 Apr 2019, 20:58 IST | Updated - 12 Apr 2019, 20:58 IST

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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni’s act of walking out into the ground from the dugout to protest one of the umpire’s flip-flop with a no-ball calling in the game with Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Jaipur on Thursday has irked a number of former cricketers. Dhoni lost his cool and invaded the ground to challenge umpire Ulhas Gandhe after he called a waist-high delivery from Ben Stokes “no” but not authoritatively.

With the final over going on and the CSK still needing a few runs, the umpire’s act did not go down well with the visiting team and they confronted the officials. Dhoni was though fined 50 per cent of his match fee, former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi thought it was nothing, but kid-gloving and slammed the “timid” authorities for not taking on the superstar of Indian cricket.

‘Authorities shamelessly timid’

The 72-year-old former spinner who is known for his forthright views, said in a tweet that he was puzzled to see that no sports journalist had the courage to criticise an “erring” established star. “Why even authorities are shamelessly timid – 50% fine is kid-gloving MSD!” he said.

Am aghast w/media calls on Dhoni’s invasion o field as most immature protest against Umpires last night..puzzles me no end why sport scribes r petrified o honest expression against erring established stars..why even authorities are shamelessly timid-50% fine is kid-gloving MSD.!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) April 12, 2019

Dhoni was also accused of setting up a bad precedent on the ground through his unnatural aggression. In another tweet, Bedi said certain ‘behavioural’ patterns are tantamount to bringing disrepute to the game. He said: “nobody was ever bigger than the game which demands highest form of exemplary discipline from players/officials alike”.

Crkt was never meant to ‘look’ ugly-never mind if laws o the game are not trespassed-but certain ‘behavioural’ patterns r tantamount 2 bringing disrepute 2 game..nobody was ever bigger than the game which demands highest form of exemplary discipline frm players/officials alike!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) April 12, 2019

Umpiring has remained a topic of debate in this IPL throughout. Last month, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) found an umpiring goof-up costing them a game as the official failed to spot a big overstepping from Mumbai Indians (MI) pacer Lasith Malinga in the final ball of the innings that saw the RCB losing by just six runs. RCB skipper Virat Kohli was livid with the umpiring error and lashed out at the officials saying IPL is not club cricket.

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