How One Mistake Almost Ended Michael Hussey CSK’s Coaching Career Under MS Dhoni

But alongside his calm nature, Dhoni also carries a fiery competitive spirit, and when things don’t go as expected, even coaches are at the receiving end. One such moment saw Michael Hussey on the receiving end of Dhoni’s rare but intense frustration. The incident left Hussey stunned, proving that even the best aren’t spared from Captain Cool’s high standards. But what really happened that day?

SRH vs CSK IPL 2018 IPL Qualifier 1

The stage was set at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai — IPL 2018, Qualifier 1. It was a high-stakes clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings, with a direct ticket to the finals on the line. Winning the toss, CSK opted to bowl first, hoping to make the most of the slowish track. Sunrisers Hyderabad, despite boasting a strong lineup, struggled against the disciplined CSK bowling attack and could only manage a modest total of 139/7 in 20 overs.

Chasing 140 should have been a straightforward task for Chennai, but cricket is never that simple. CSK had a nightmare start, losing Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, and Ambati Rayudu in quick succession. In just 3.4 overs, they were reeling at 24/3, and the pressure in the dugout was visible. Then, as the scoreboard looked grim, the Wankhede crowd erupted as MS Dhoni was walking out to bat. The captain, known for his calm in the storm, had the responsibility of rescuing his team from a collapse. But suddenly…

Right Advice, Wrong Time – When Michael Hussey Annoyed MS Dhoni!

Before the big game at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Chennai Super Kings head coach Michael Hussey received a key piece of analysis about Sunrisers Hyderabad’s star spinner, Rashid Khan. The video showed that Rashid had a slight difference in his grip when bowling wrong-uns versus leg-spinners. Hussey debated whether to share this with the CSK batsmen so close to the match. He didn’t want to overload them with information at the last moment, but also felt it could be useful. After thinking for an hour, he finally decided to send the details to the batting group, leaving it up to them to use it or ignore it.

The next day, CSK was chasing a modest target of 140 but had a terrible start, losing Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, and Ambati Rayudu early. At 39/3, MS Dhoni walked in to steady the innings alongside Faf du Plessis. Then came the big moment. Rashid Khan bowled his first delivery to Dhoni, which was a wrong’un. Remembering the information Hussey had shared, Dhoni attempted a cover drive against the spin. However, he completely misread it and was bowled first ball. 

As Dhoni returned to the dugout, he looked straight at Hussey and said, he bats in his own way. Hussey sat frozen, thinking that his coaching career was done. He spent the rest of the game in shock, worried about the consequences of his advice. However, CSK fought back brilliantly. Faf du Plessis played a fantastic innings to anchor the chase, while Shardul Thakur hit crucial boundaries to seal a thrilling two-wicket win. The victory not only took CSK to the final but also lifted the pressure off Hussey. On this, Hussey stated the story as:

The night before the big game, the analyst sends me through this split screen of Rashid Khan. And it’s basically when he bowls his wrong’uns, he runs in his fingers together, and when he bowls his leggy, his fingers are apart. “Ooh this is good”. But this is the night before the game though, so I’m sitting on thinking, do I send this out to the batters or do I not? I sat looking at it for an hour because you don’t want to put too much stuff guys’ head the night before the game. But I’m sitting on this and thought I’ll never forgive myself if I didn’t send this through and I sent it to the batting group. I said for what it’s might worth you might want to use it or just ignore it if you don’t. Faf du Plessis loves that kind of stuff and he came back immediately, saying “Awesome, yeah, yeah”.

We were like four down for nothing the next day and Dhoni’s in with Faf at the other. Rashid Khan comes in first ball and bowls the wrong’un. Dhoni goes for the cover drive, hitting against the spin, bowled. You’ve got to understand that this guy is a mega star, like bigger than god. He comes in and looks me straight in the eye and he goes, “I’ll bat my own f***ing way, thanks” and sits down next to me. Oh, Coaching career, done! I sat for the rest of the game like a stunned mullet. Dhoni’s a great guy, and he comes up after the game and said, “The information was great, but I needed more time and a couple of net sessions to process it”.

After the game, Dhoni approached Hussey and clarified his frustration. He explained that while the information was valuable, he needed more time and at least a few net sessions to properly process and implement it. This experience taught Hussey an important lesson that even great players like Dhoni prefer to absorb tactical insights in their own way and at their own pace. In the end, CSK went on to win the IPL 2018 title, making the moment just another interesting chapter in the legendary story of MS Dhoni.

Michael Hussey’s Career at Chennai Super Kings

Michael Hussey, one of Australia’s finest cricketers, had an illustrious career on the field, but his journey as a coach with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) came with its own unexpected twists as one of which involved none other than MS Dhoni. Known for his calm and collected nature, Dhoni rarely lets his emotions show. However, Hussey once found himself at the receiving end of a rare moment where Dhoni’s frustration surfaced.

Before stepping into coaching, Hussey was a vital part of the CSK batting lineup. In 49 innings for the franchise, he amassed 1,768 runs at an impressive average of 42.10 and a strike rate of 123.64. His consistency and ability to anchor innings made him a crucial player for CSK. After his playing career, he transitioned into coaching and rejoined the franchise as the batting coach. 

Under his guidance, CSK lifted the IPL trophy in 2018, 2021, and 2023. Despite working with some of the greatest players, Hussey quickly learned that coaching legends like Dhoni required a different approach. Sometimes, the best strategy wasn’t about giving instructions as it was about stepping back and allowing the natural instincts of a cricketing genius to take over.