File photo of MS Dhoni© BCCI
MS Dhoni impressed both fans and experts with his explosive innings but it was not enough to clinch the victory for Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2024 match against Delhi Capitals. Dhoni was at his explosive best as the veteran wicket-keeper batter slammed 37 off just 16 balls but CSK could only manage to score 171/6 in 20 overs while chasing 192. The knock broke the internet but former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull believes that it was a poor call for Dhoni to come out to bat after Sameer Rizvi and Ravindra Jadeja. In a discussion on Cricbuzz, Doull said that this was the first time Dhoni was batting in IPL 2024 and he needed more time to settle down before firing in the run chase.
“I know there was a lot of hoopa about Dhoni’s innings but he blocked a lot of balls. He faced a lot of dots and then when he started to not take runs, I could not believe what I was watching. I know he is the great MS Dhoni but it was a poor call. It was a really poor call not to take those runs.”
“You are still trying to win the game and I know it is his first bat in a long time, first bat of the season and he is probably thinking at some stage of maybe getting to find some form but I didn’t agree with it. I didn’t agree with what happened in that situation. To me, it was a really poor look. I was watching it and thinking you know, it didn’t look good for me. That just didn’t look quite right to me when he wasn’t taking runs.”
Calls for MS Dhoni batting higher up the order have grown after his whirlwind effort against Delhi Capitals but Michael Clarke feels the former Chennai Super Kings captain will continue to bat at no.8 and will only promote himself if the game “is on the line”.
Dhoni’s unbeaten 37 off 16 balls at number eight did not prove to be enough but his loyal fans believe the outcome would have been different had he batted higher up the order.
Clarke, who like Dhoni is a World Cup-winning captain, said the Indian legend will continue to perform the finisher’s role.
“I don’t think he will. I think he’ll stay where he is. I think every MS Dhoni fan wants to see him as high up the order as possible. We’ve all said throughout his career, he should open the batting,” Clarke told Star Sports.
“But look, he’s at a stage of his career where he’s down from the captaincy. I don’t think he’ll come up the order. I think if there’s a game on the line and he needs to go up the order because it’s what’s best for the team, I’m sure he will.” Dhoni’s cameo against the Delhi Capitals included a thundering six over extra-cover before he unleashed a one handed maximum over mid-wicket in the 20th over.
(With PTI inputs)
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