Will MS Dhoni be banned from IPL 2023 final against GT?

Dhoni was accused of wasting time deliberately during CSK's fielding against GT in Qualifier 1.

Will MS Dhoni be banned from IPL 2023 final against GT?

MS Dhoni

Since that Qualifier 1 match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT), there has been news spreading whether CSK skipper MS Dhoni will get banned for the final of the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) against the Hardik Pandya-led side. In Qualifier 1, an incident seemed to make one of the most beloved cricketers, Dhoni, face criticism from not just fans but notable personalities in the cricket fraternity also.

Dhoni was accused of wasting time deliberately during CSK’s fielding. At one point, CSK’s pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana left the field. But when he returned, Dhoni asked him to bowl the 16th over, however, the umpire stopped the Sri Lankan pacer from doing so.

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This is due to the law which doesn’t allow the bowler to deliver his over when he leaves the field and doesn’t complete that time on the field after returning. According to the TV commentators, the 29-year-old was away from the field for around 9 minutes.

He is Dhoni’s go-to bowler during the death overs and the latter explained the same to the umpire that Pathirana has to bowl. However, as the 41-year-old got engaged in arguing with the umpire, around four minutes passed before the umpire decided to allow Pathirana to bowl the 16th over. Though, due to this delay, CSK had to play the 20th over with one fielder less outside the 30-yard circle. And as many criticized Dhoni for his time-wasting tactics, several of them even demanded a ban on him.

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Will Dhoni be banned from IPL 2023 final against GT?

Will MS Dhoni be banned from IPL 2023 final against GT?
MS Dhoni

No, Dhoni cannot be banned from playing the IPL final against GT. He is a captain and a captain only faces the ban when he repeated the slow-over rate offense three times. In 2023, it was Dhoni has been fined just once so that means, Thala will lead the four-time champions in the final against GT on the reserve day on Monday (May 29)

The final match, which was slated to take place on Sunday (May 28) has been shifted to May 29 due to incessant rain in Ahmedabad. If the same continues on reserve day too, then GT will be declared the winner as they are above CSK on the points table.

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