The former Indian skipper MS Dhoni has been batting lower in the order for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) over the past couple of IPL seasons. The former captain recently explained that a mix of factors, including a knee injury in 2022, the presence of teammates eyeing a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad in 2023 and the solid performances of those batting above him, meant he saw no need to promote himself.
However, during CSK’s IPL 2025 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Dhoni’s entry at No. 9 raised eyebrows among former cricketers, including the former CSK players. With CSK playing at home and requiring 98 runs from 28 deliveries, Dhoni walked in midway through the 16th over after Ravichandran Ashwin’s dismissal. The decision surprised many, considering Dhoni’s well-established batting prowess compared to Ashwin, primarily known for his bowling. Critics argued that even if victory seemed out of reach, Dhoni’s earlier presence could have helped manage CSK’s net run-rate.
The former all-rounder Irfan Pathan who was part of CSK’s squad in 2015 expressed his disagreement with the move, stating that he would never support the idea of Dhoni batting so low, as it was not in the team’s best interest. Another former CSK player Robin Uthappa echoed similar concerns, emphasising that Dhoni’s earlier arrival at the crease could have positively impacted CSK’s campaign, particularly their net run-rate.
Despite his late entry, Dhoni made an impact, scoring an unbeaten 30 off 16 balls, including three fours and two sixes. However, CSK ultimately fell short, finishing at 146/8 while chasing 197.
Commentator and former cricketer Aakash Chopra weighed in on the discussion, suggesting that Dhoni should be positioned higher in the order to maximize his ability to win matches from difficult situations. He pointed out that while fans love seeing Dhoni smash sixes, they would also want their team to secure victories. Given Dhoni’s recent form, it would be logical for him to give himself more time at the crease.
With Dhoni’s role in the batting order under scrutiny, CSK may need to reconsider their approach in the upcoming matches to make the most of his finishing abilities.
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