MS Dhoni batting position has sparked a fresh wave of conversation in the cricketing world following Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) recent defeat. Former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull has voiced a strong opinion, urging CSK to let MS Dhoni bat higher up the order, ideally at No. 4, to utilize his finishing powerfully.
In their latest IPL match, CSK faced a daunting target of 220 runs. MS Dhoni came in with just 25 balls remaining, and the team still needed 69. Despite his late entry, the 43-year-old veteran smashed 27 off just 12 balls, including three towering sixes. Unfortunately, he was dismissed on the first ball of the final over, and CSK fell short by 18 runs, marking their fourth consecutive loss after winning their opener against Mumbai Indians.
MS Dhoni Batting Position Needs Urgent Reconsideration, Says Doull
Doull, speaking to Cricbuzz via Hindustan Times, said,
“Dhoni was 27 off 12 balls… if it happens at no.3 or 4, that makes a difference to the game. By the time he came out to bat, the run rate was 14. It was too late. Dhoni had three sixes in 12 balls. The rest of the team had five in total. So that tells you he’s still got the ability and power to hit those sixes,”
He further emphasized,
“That’s why we have been talking about getting him up in the order. Because 27 off 12 balls, when they are 2 down, actually can make a difference. It’s not his fault,”
Devon Conway’s Retirement Questioned by Simon Doull
Simon Doull also questioned CSK’s strategic decisions, particularly the timing of Devon Conway’s self-retirement. Conway scored 69 off 49 balls but stepped out with just 13 deliveries left in the innings, which limited the impact of the incoming Ravindra Jadeja.
“Retiring Conway was an interesting decision. He had the pace of the pitch but his strike rate was too low. In a game where you’ve got a strike rate of 190 to win, he was scoring at 140. But he was retired out too late, too late for Jadeja to assess,” Doull remarked.
Chasing Troubles Continue for CSK
CSK’s struggles with chasing totals continue to mount. Despite putting up a commendable 200+ score, the team has now lost four in a row and won only once while chasing in all five of their matches this season. As of now, they sit ninth on the points table.
With their next match scheduled against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 11, CSK desperately needs a strategy reset, and perhaps promoting MS Dhoni’s batting position could be the key to turning things around.