Michael Vaughan Schools RCB for Overlooking MS Dhoni in Farewell Match
19.05.2024: Former England captain Michael Vaughan has called out Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) players for their lack of courtesy towards Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend MS Dhoni. Vaughan believes that RCB should have postponed their celebrations after defeating CSK to acknowledge Dhoni, who might have played the final match of his illustrious career.
While Dhoni hasn’t officially announced his retirement, there is widespread speculation that he will retire after IPL 2024. With CSK eliminated from the tournament, it’s uncertain if the iconic wicketkeeper-batsman will return next season.
“RCB have a massive following, but they also tend to irritate many people, and tonight was a prime example,” Vaughan commented on Cricbuzz. “I understand their excitement—they’ve never won the IPL before—but this was a moment to show some respect.”
Vaughan emphasized that Saturday night could have been the perfect opportunity for RCB players to avoid any future regrets if Dhoni indeed decides to retire.
“If there ever was a time for players to be aware of the situation, this was it. If that was MS Dhoni’s last game, running around the ground celebrating while ignoring him isn’t right. They should have waited, greeted the legend, then celebrated,” Vaughan added.
“This is an iconic player. I wouldn’t want to be an RCB player waking up the next morning thinking, ‘MS Dhoni has announced his retirement, and we didn’t have the decency to shake his hand first’,” he concluded.
The match was a critical one for RCB, who were in a must-win situation against CSK. Batting first, RCB posted a formidable 218/5 in 20 overs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Despite a strong fight from Rachin Ravindra and a late surge from Ravindra Jadeja and Dhoni, RCB secured a 27-run victory, thus qualifying for the playoffs.
Michael Vaughan’s comments highlight the importance of sportsmanship and respect, especially towards legends like MS Dhoni. Whether Dhoni retires or not, his contributions to cricket remain unparalleled, and acknowledging his presence is a gesture that goes a long way in honoring the spirit of the game.