New Delhi: Veteran Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni has received an official reprimand for breaching the Indian Premier League (IPL) Code of Conduct during Rising Pune Supergiant`s (RPS) match with Mumbai Indians played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Thursday.
The former Indian captain admitted the Level 1 offence (Article 2.1.1) for conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game.
For Level 1 breaches of the IPL Code of Conduct, the Match Referee`s decision is final and binding. Further details are awaited.
Though an official confirmation revealing the reason of breach is yet to be isssued, it is considered that the Jharkhand batsman will likely pay the price for his DRS gesture while keeping to an Imran Tahir delivery during yesterday`s match which RPS won by seven wickets.
It was the South African spinner's third over that he struck Kieran Pollard on the pads and gave a vociferous appeal and Dhoni jokingly signalled for a DRS review.
Dhoni was energetic in the appeal, jumping and pleading relentlessly. But as the umpire turned down it, he seemed to have mocked the umpire's decision by signalling DRS usage. Reviews showed the ball hitting the pad first, then the trajectory of the ball crashing into the wickets.
Match referee Manu Nayyar seems to have not taken the joke nicely and the wicketkeeper-batsman received an official reprimand.
The Pune outfit won the game by seven wickets with captain Steven Smith smashing an unbeaten 84 off 54 balls.
(With Agencies inputs)
