MS Dhoni’s Sharp Retort to Deepak Chahar’s ‘Death-Over’ Request: ‘Yeh Beard Maine Dhoop Mein Safed Nahi Ki’
Dhoni recalled that Chahar, who has consistently excelled with the new ball, would often question why he wasn’t trusted with bowling in high-pressure death-over situations. Dhoni explained his reasoning to Chahar, saying, “When you’re taking wickets in the powerplay, why change something that works so well?”
Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni shared an amusing incident from the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, revealing a time he lost his cool with teammate Deepak Chahar. Veteran bowler Mohit Sharma recently recounted how Chahar’s disregard for Dhoni’s instructions led the CSK skipper to make a memorable remark during an IPL match against Punjab.
At an event organized by RIGI, Dhoni responded to Chahar’s frequent complaint about not being given the chance to bowl in death overs. Dhoni recalled that Chahar, who has consistently excelled with the new ball, would often question why he wasn’t trusted with bowling in high-pressure death-over situations. Dhoni explained his reasoning to Chahar, saying, “When you’re taking wickets in the powerplay, why change something that works so well?”
During the match in question, Chahar, in his characteristic style, insisted on his ability to handle the death overs. Dhoni, however, stuck to his plan, reminding Chahar that experience plays a big role in handling these high-pressure moments. Dhoni humorously added, “Yeh beard maine dhoop mein safed nahi ki,” meaning, “I didn’t turn my beard grey in the sun,” a remark indicating his wisdom and years of experience.
Dhoni’s insistence on placing Chahar in powerplay overs—where he consistently took wickets—paid dividends for CSK, and his advice to focus on strengths has helped shape Chahar’s IPL success. The incident underscores Dhoni’s insightful leadership style and his emphasis on players understanding their roles and trusting his experience, even when it means forgoing personal ambitions.
