Why MS Dhoni Broke Down in Tears at a Dinner Party After CSK’s 2018 Comeback — The Untold Story Behind the Emotional Night
Chennai Super Kings has always had a special connection with its fans. They’ve stood by the team through every high and low, and many of them worship MS Dhoni like a hero. Over the years, Dhoni has been known for one thing, his calm nature.
No matter how big the win or how tough the loss, fans never saw him show emotions. No smiles, no tears, just focus. But something changed in IPL 2018. After CSK returned to the league following a two-year ban, the team went on to win the title. At a private dinner party after the win, something happened that shocked everyone. Dhoni, the man known for never showing emotions, cried in front of his teammates. No cameras, no crowd but just raw emotion. That night, the team saw the real Dhoni. So, let’s uncover the complete story here.
Harbhajan & Tahir Reveal Dhoni’s Emotional Night
The Chennai Super Kings have been a franchise who has got a lot of achievements and hence, holds a special place in the hearts of cricket fans across the world. However, the journey hasn’t always been smooth. In 2015, CSK faced a major setback when the team was banned from the Indian Premier League for two years following the involvement of team officials in a betting scandal. This left a huge void in the tournament and was a major emotional blow for the fans, players, and especially MS Dhoni.
During the ban, in IPL 2016 and 2017, Dhoni played for the newly introduced Rising Pune Supergiants. But even that chapter wasn’t ideal. In 2017, he was removed from captaincy and played under Steve Smith, a decision that was widely discussed and debated. Despite these changes, Dhoni remained calm and composed, rarely showing any emotion in public.
But 2018 marked a dramatic turn of events.
CSK made their much-anticipated return to the IPL. Despite critics calling them “Dad’s Army” due to the age of the squad, Dhoni led his team with sharp strategy, calmness, and unmatched leadership. The team not only performed beyond expectations but went on to win the IPL 2018 title, proving all the doubters wrong. What happened after that win, however, remained a secret for years, until Harbhajan Singh, one of Dhoni’s former CSK and India teammates, shared an emotional behind-the-scenes story. During a talk show, Harbhajan revealed that Dhoni, known for his stoic nature, broke down in tears at a team dinner. This was the first time many of his teammates saw him so emotional. He said:
There is a story which I want to share. Back in 2018, when CSK made a comeback to this league after a two-year ban, there was a team dinner. We must have heard the saying that “Men don’t cry”, but MS Dhoni cried on that night. He became emotional. I think no one knows about this.
Imran Tahir, also part of the squad that year, added to the memory that it was a special moment for the Chennai Super Kings team because the team was coming back after a gap of two years, and hence, MS Dhoni was the one who was the most attached to this franchise. In the statement given, he said:
Even when I was there. It was a very emotional moment for him (MS Dhoni). Looking at him like that, I came to know how close this team is to his heart. He considers the team as his family. It was very emotional for all of us. We came back after two years and won the trophy, when people gave our team the tag of buddhe (old men). Even though I was in the squad that season, we won the title. I am very proud of that victory.
The moment revealed a side of Dhoni that fans never got to witness. For a man who led India to all major ICC titles and CSK to multiple IPL victories, that single dinner night in 2018 showed his heart, loyalty, and love for CSK, proving that even legends can cry.
How Chennai Super Kings Performed in IPL 2018?
After coming back from a ban in the year 2018, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made a historic return to the Indian Premier League, silencing critics and reclaiming their dominance in T20 cricket. Tagged unfairly as the “Dad’s Army” due to the presence of several senior players, CSK turned the narrative around by lifting the trophy in style. Under the calm and composed leadership of MS Dhoni, they showed incredible consistency throughout the season, finishing second on the points table with 9 wins in 14 matches, tied on 18 points with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), but slightly behind on Net Run Rate.
However, what truly set CSK apart was their incredible dominance over SRH, the eventual runners-up, defeating them all four times they met, including in the Qualifier 1 and the grand final. Each of these wins demonstrated CSK’s game awareness and ability to rise to the occasion. The team’s batting was led by Ambati Rayudu, who had a breakout season with 602 runs at an average of 43.00 and a strike rate of 149.75.
He even scored a memorable century and played key roles in several chases. Shane Watson, another vital member of the squad, scored 555 runs at an average of 39.64, including two centuries, one of them being a match-winning 117* in the final. MS Dhoni, who often promoted himself down the order, was remarkably consistent, scoring 455 runs at an astonishing average of 75.83 and a strike rate of over 150.
His calmness under pressure proved crucial, especially in tight situations. Suresh Raina added his experience to the middle order with 445 runs, while Faf du Plessis played fewer matches but made a huge impact in the Qualifier with a vital unbeaten 67*. Dwayne Bravo continued to perform the finisher’s role and chipped in with important cameos in the death overs. On the bowling front, Lungi Ngidi stood out with 11 wickets from just 7 matches at an outstanding economy of 6.00 and an average of 14.18. Shardul Thakur topped the team’s wicket chart with 16 wickets, while Bravo backed his all-round skills with 14 scalps despite being expensive at times.
Ravindra Jadeja and Deepak Chahar provided control and breakthroughs in the middle overs, while Karn Sharma and Imran Tahir contributed effectively when called upon. The team showed great depth, with everyone playing their role precisely. More importantly, CSK’s faith in experienced players paid off. They backed the likes of Watson, Bravo, Rayudu, Billings, and du Plessis, and that belief was repaid with consistent match-winning performances.
Their final against SRH was the perfect climax to a memorable campaign. Chasing 179, CSK rode on Shane Watson’s brutal century to seal the win by 8 wickets. The team’s strategy, experience, and fearless brand of cricket made their 2018 comeback one of the greatest stories in IPL history. CSK didn’t just return as they dominated, proving once again why they are one of the most successful franchises in T20 cricket.
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