Dhoni reprimanded for DRS gesture

MS Dhoni has been reprimanded for a "minor" code of conduct breach after Rising Pune Supergiant's seven-wicket win in their opening match against Mumbai Indians on Thursday. It is understood that Dhoni's offence was making a review gesture with his hands - there is no DRS in the IPL - immediately after an lbw appeal against Kieron Pollard was turned down.

Match referee Manu Nayyar found Dhoni guilty of a Level 1 offence under Article 2.1.1 of the IPL's rules, which deals with conduct "contrary to the spirit of the game". Dhoni admitted to the offence after the match.

The said clause reads: "[The regulation] is intended to cover all types of conduct of a minor nature that is contrary to the spirit of the game and which is not specifically and adequately covered by specific offences set out elsewhere in the Code of Conduct. The spirit of the game is defined by reference to the Preamble to the Laws of Cricket and involves respect for a) your opponents, b) your captain and team, c) the role of the umpires and d) the game and its traditional values."

The incident took place in the 15th over of Mumbai Indians' innings, which was delivered by South African legspinner Imran Tahir. Tahir, who was playing his first match for Pune, had bowled a flat and quick delivery, which struck Pollard's front pad in front of middle and off stump.

Dhoni, Tahir and captain Steven Smith, at first slip, all appealed vociferously. But S Ravi, the umpire, turned it down; the ball struck Pollard's bat just after it had struck the pad, perhaps leading to some doubt. But ball-tracking showed the ball would have crashed into middle stump, and replays confirmed the ball had hit pad first and showed that Dhoni had gestured for a review.