Follow UsThe Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are in a bit of a fix regarding their face and icon player Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Dhoni, 43 now, comes to bat quite lower down the order, and on two occasions already during this Indian Premier League (IPL) season, his knocks have come in unsuccessful chases. In CSK’s second game of the season against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Dhoni batted number nine, coming even after R Ashwin. Meanwhile, he batted at seven against RR in Guwahati. CSK lost both the chases.
Speaking after CSK’s loss in Guwahati against RR, coach Stephen Fleming explained that Dhoni isn’t fit to bat 10 overs on the full throttle. His role comes only in the last few overs, and the team understands what he can provide in that regard.
“Yeah, it’s a time thing [On Dhoni coming to bat down the order]. 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 ten overs running full stick,” Fleming said at the post-game press conference.
“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.
Dhoni batting so low down the order is now being questioned by experts as well, who are asking what’s the point of having a batter like him bat so down the order? For instance, Dhoni went in to bat when CSK needed 54 off 25 deliveries and the match in a really dire situation.
Fleming explained that Dhoni’s presence and fitness are too precious for the team to send him in the 9th-10th over of a chase.
“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,” Fleming added.