IPL 2018 - KXIP vs CSK: Why fans are furious with R Ashwin after MS Dhoni's epic

There are several reasons why Mahendra Singh Dhoni is considered one of the greatest captains the game of cricket has ever had.

Apart from his immense cricketing acumen, MSD is also credited for backing players, thanks to whom Team India has scaled many heights, even at the cost of jeopardising his own position.

One of those players, of course, is Ravichandran Ashwin. The off-spinner became a regular in the Indian cricket team after Dhoni gave him relentless support when the duo played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

This fact was remembered by fans before CSK took on the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in Mohali on Sunday.

Dhoni to Ashwin, after Ashwin hit a six against CSK. #KXIPvCSK pic.twitter.com/qQaNjMHxiO

— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) April 15, 2018

Tonight in IPL. Ashwin plays against Dhoni. #KXIPvCSK pic.twitter.com/ALT5QSW0pE

— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) April 15, 2018

Match Day! There might be a Katapa moment when Ashwin picks Dhoni's wicket!  #KXIPvCSK #WhistlePodu

— Sai Pranav (@Sai__Pranav) April 15, 2018

Ashwin vs Dhoni be like...

#RCBvRR pic.twitter.com/aSEYU4BiSm

— Pub of God (@Punofgod) April 15, 2018

MS Dhoni and R Ashwin. #KXIPvCSK #IPL pic.twitter.com/toBY5y6ol1

— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) April 15, 2018

Fans, thus, were disappointed by Ashwin for failing to acknowledge Dhoni's heroics during the post-match presentation on Sunday. The KXIP shared his thoughts on the thrilling match, but failed to utter a single word for his former captain.

"I felt there was a lot of dew, but overall the bowling went well. It was crucial to get Rayudu at that point of the game, it was a game-breaking moment. We are not going to be a team that goes back and thinks maybe we could have done this or that, we are going to be a team that thinks maybe we could have stuck to the basics. Today I thought we should unleash Gayle and he had the right sort of an attack to go out there and express himself," said Ashwin after his team's four-run victory.

Dhoni, on the other hand, didn't fail to mention Chris Gayle and Mujeeb Ur Rahman's contributions in Punjab's win. "They bowled very well, Mujeeb made a difference. I don't think there was much dew on the ground. They played better than us. We can improve in few areas. Chris' innings in the first innings and Mujeeb's bowling made a difference," said MSD.

Fans noticed how Dhoni praised his opponents while Ashwin didn't.

Here are some tweets

Not a single word of appreciation of Dhoni's innings from Ashwin in the post match presentation. Lost my respect long back and even more now.

— Samvit (@Samvit13) April 15, 2018

Just catched up on that whole Post match PC not a single word of appreciation by Ashwin for this super effort by Dhoni. Somehow managed to dodge the whole thing#KXIPvCSK

— Abhay Chaudhary (@ImAbhay3) April 15, 2018

Not a single word of appreciation by Ashwin for Dhoni.

He completely lost my respect#KXIPvCSK #Dhoni #CSK #Mahi #CSKian

— Anjali.. (@Anjali39483451) April 15, 2018

With out dhoni ashwin is nothing..
He supported him alot in tough situations..
If u see dhoni speech today he applauded gayle and mujeeb for their game..
But ashwin didn't utter a single word

— pradeep yadav :) (@itsmepradeep7) April 15, 2018

Ashwin Didnt Say Anyword About Dhoni Innings? Any Problems Between Them  #IPL

— Shanujan (@J_Shanujan) April 15, 2018

Dhoni, battling back pain, took the match into the last over with a blistering 79 off 44 balls on Sunday. However, his valiant effort did not prove to be enough as CSK ended at 193 for five in response to KXIP's 197 for seven at the PCA Stadium in Mohali.

The Super Kings needed as many as 76 off the last 30 balls and Dhoni got his team almost over the line with an innings comprising six fours and five sixes. With 17 needing off the final over, pacer Mohit Sharma did the job for KXIP, who recorded their second win in three games this season. It was the first loss of the season for the Dhoni-led team.