Dhoni’s late entry in matches has limited his impact, raising concerns as CSK struggles to finish games in IPL 2025.
Last Friday, the Chepauk Stadium erupted in joy, not because Chennai Super Kings was winning, but because MS Dhoni came to bat after a long wait. Dhoni captivated the Chepauk crowd with a 30-run knock off 16 balls, including three sixes and two fours, and this happened during Chennai Super Kings’ match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, criticisms were raised about Dhoni batting at No. 9, as his late entry made it challenging to affect the game outcome despite his quick innings.
Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming addressed this issue after CSK’s second consecutive loss against RR on Sunday night, saying that Dhoni’s ongoing knee struggles play a big role in determining his position in the batting lineup.
Dhoni’s fitness and Game Strategy
Discussing Dhoni’s knee injury, which required surgery in 2023, Fleming explained why the former captain is unlikely to bat higher up the order. “Yeah, it’s a time thing,” Fleming said. “MS judges it. His body is, his knees aren’t what they used to be. And he’s moving okay, but there’s still an attrition aspect to it. He can’t bat 10 overs running full stick. So he will gauge on the day what he can give us. If the game’s in the balance like today, he will go a little bit earlier, and he backs other players when other opportunities are up. So he’s balancing that.” he said.
Dhoni’s value to CSK
Addressing concerns about whether Dhoni has become a burden for Chennai Super Kings, Fleming defended his importance to the team. “I said it last year [as well], he’s too valuable to us – leadership and wicket-keeping – to throw him in nine, ten overs. He has actually never done that. So, look, from around 13-14 overs, he’s looking to go depending on who’s in.” Dhoni’s experience and leadership continue to be highly important for the franchise.
Attempt against Rajasthan Royals
In the match against Rajasthan Royals, Dhoni came out to bat at No. 7, needing 54 runs to win from the final 4.1 overs. Although he struggled initially against former CSK spinner Maheesh Theekshana, he managed to hit a boundary and a six in the penultimate over bowled by Tushar Deshpande. However, Dhoni fell short of winng the game for Chennai after getting out in the final over with 20 runs needed, as the team fell six runs short of the target.
