Follow UsThe Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are in a bit of a fix when it comes to their face and icon player Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Dhoni, 43 now, comes to bat quite lower down the order, and on two occasions 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 Rajasthan in Guwahati, scoring just 16 off 11 balls in a chase where CSK lost by six runs.
Speaking on the same, Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out that Dhoni has been playing more as a brand than a player for CSK, and the franchise needs to find new ways to utilise Dhoni better.
“I will look at the larger picture. If you look at this year and even last year, Dhoni is playing more as a brand than as a player," Manjrekar said on JioStar.
"When they select the playing XI, they don't pick an extra batter because MS is there. MS Dhoni is a bonus for them. He has a different role.”
The former Mumbai and India batter didn’t mince his words and said that Dhoni should captain the side to increase his utility. Notably, Dhoni was bought for just INR 4 crore by CSK as he qualified as an uncapped player after being retired from international cricket for more than four years.
“I think if MS Dhoni is playing and batting so late, he should be the captain,” Manjrekar remarked.
“He is doing great as a wicketkeeper, but he would contribute more as captain. Right now, he is being under-utilised.”