Follow UsMahendra Singh Dhoni is not just a name anymore, he is synonymous with the Indian Premier League (IPL), having played the league every season since its inception in 2008. He will also be taking part in the 2025 edition, which will be the 18th season of the cash-rich cricket league.
However, the Dhoni of 2008 is not the same as Dhoni 2025. It can be understood from the fact that between 2008 and 2022, he got out just twice on a golden duck (out on the very first ball) in 14 years. But in the last two seasons, he got out for a golden duck twice, once each in 2023 and 2024.
Here are all the four different bowlers who have dismissed Dhoni for a golden duck in IPL history.
Shane Watson, one of the most successful all-rounders in IPL history, removed the then India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain for a duck on the very first ball during match 32 of the 2010 edition of the league.
This was the first ever golden duck for the joint most successful captain in the league’s history as he was caught by Sumit Narwal, trying to keep up the run rate in a game where Chennai managed to put on 246/5, the highest score in the league till then. CSK won the game by 23 runs.
In Qualifier 1 of IPL 2015, Dhoni, the captain of the CSK unit, was trapped by Harbhajan Singh for a golden duck as his team were unable to chase down 188. The yellow brigade lost the game by 25 runs, but made a comeback in Qualifier 2 to reach the final eventually.
In the 2023 IPL final, Dhoni got out on a golden duck, making it the first occasion when the charismatic captain was unable to score in the final of an event.
The final was played for two days due to rain, and it was on the second day, when Chennai were chasing 171 to win from 15 overs, that Dhoni was caught by David Miller off Mohit Sharma. Eventually though, CSK sailed through to become champions courtesy of a brilliant Ravindra Jadeja cameo.
The last time that Dhoni was out on a golden duck was in a league match in 2024 IPL. Playing against Punjab Kings, the 43-year-old came to bat at number nine and still got out first ball, clean bowled by Harshal Patel. But once again, CSK managed to scrape through to a win even in this match where they had scored just 167 batting first.