Several larger-than-life characters are well-known for their great skill set on the pitch, which contributes to their growing popularity and helps them become even more well-known.

Such is the case with MS Dhoni, who is universally praised for his level head and composure; nevertheless, after consecutive dismal bowling performances by CSK, he was compelled to be harsh with his team.

After suffering their first defeat of the season in the opening match of the Indian Premier League 2023 against the defending champions Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, the four-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) roared back at their fortress on Monday to defeat the high-flying Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by a score of 12 runs.

CSK amassed 217 runs when batting first, driven by Ruturaj Gaikwad‘s blazing 57 off 31 balls and Devon Conway’s 47 off 29 balls. Riding on this combined batting performance, CSK was able to reach 217 runs. They then limited LSG’s score to 205/7, but the margin of victory would have been greater if they hadn’t bowled 13 wides and five no-balls throughout their innings.

This was not the first time that CSK, who are famed for their discipline in bowling, went underwhelming in IPL 2023; in fact, it was one of their more mediocre performances. During their match against the Titans, they gave the opposition 12 additional runs thanks to a combination of six wides and two no-balls.

As a result, when MS Dhoni was asked what he thought about their bowling unit during the post-match presentation ceremony in a conversation with Murali Kartik, he did not hold back from giving his honest opinion. The bowler, who is 41 years old, even joked that if they keep performing at this level, they might have to find a new captain. He said this, of course, with a grin on his face.

“When it comes to fast bowling, we have some room for improvement. It is necessary to bowl appropriately given the circumstances. The most crucial thing is to keep an eye on how the bowlers in the other team are performing. Another requirement is that they cannot bowl any no-balls or extra wides; otherwise, they will be required to play under a different captain. Dhoni is quoted as saying the following during the post-match presentation that was posted by the IPL on social media: “It will be my second warning and then I’ll be off.”

WATCH: MS Dhoni gave a post-match interview after CSK’s win

#CSK bowlers today bowled 13 wides and 3 no balls against #LSG and Captain @msdhoni, in his inimitable style, had this to say. 😁😆#TATAIPL | #CSKvLSG pic.twitter.com/p6xRqaZCiK

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 3, 2023