Harshal Patel achieved something pretty special in the IPL 2024 on Sunday, becoming the first bowler to dismiss Chennai Super Kings legend MS Dhoni this season in the PBKS VS CSK clash Harshal took down Dhoni with a perfectly executed slower yorker. This rare golden duck might’ve called for a big celebration, but the Punjab Kings’ fast bowler did not celebrate the wicket out of respect for the veteran.
“I have too much respect for him to celebrate when I get him out,” the PBKS bowler later said in the mid-innings chat on his no-celebration act.
Harshal Patel clean bowls MS Dhoni
It was the first time MS Dhoni batted at No. 9 in his entire T20 career, a surprise move as Mitchell Santner and Shardul Thakur were sent out before him. Harshal had already done some damage earlier in the innings, getting rid of Thakur with a slower yorker that snuck right under his bat.
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When Dhoni finally came out to bat, Harshal used the same approach, and the result was a perfect yorker that broke through and hit the off-stump. Dhoni was out on the first ball, making Harshal the only bowler to get him out in IPL 2024.
Patel refused to celebrate
Despite this big moment, Harshal’s reaction was subtle. He just raised his arms a bit while his teammates celebrated the wicket with more enthusiasm. The muted celebration was a nod to the respect he had for a player of Dhoni’s calibre. Even with the subdued reaction, Harshal’s bowling was on point—he ended up with figures of 3 for 24, helping keep Chennai Super Kings to a score of 167 for nine. Despite a relatively small target, Punjab Kings batting order faltered as CSK claimed a 28-run win over Punjab Kings
