Dhoni Should Bat Higher, He's Still Batting Beautifully, Says Ex-CSK Star: 'If He Had...'

Former Australia and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Shane Watson has called for MS Dhoni to bat higher in the CSK batting order, arguing that the legendary cricketer still possesses the skills to make a greater impact. (Schedule | Teams | Points Table)

Watson's comments come after Dhoni walked in at No.9 during CSK's chase of 197 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025, a move that left fans puzzled.

In the match against RCB, which CSK eventually lost by 50 runs, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin were all sent in to bat ahead of MS Dhoni. It was only after Ashwin's dismissal that Dhoni finally made his way to the crease. Similarly, in CSK's opening game of IPL 2025, Dhoni came out to bat at No.8 when the result was virtually sealed, with the team needing just four runs to win.

“This is exactly what CSK fans come to see—30 off 16 deliveries from Dhoni,” Watson said on JioHotstar. “I would have absolutely loved to see him come up the order. Given the game situation, Dhoni could have played like this for another 15 balls. Over the last couple of years, he has consistently shown that he라이브 바카라 still batting beautifully. Over the last couple of years, he has consistently shown that he라이브 바카라 still batting beautifully.”

Despite his late arrival at the crease, Dhoni showcased his trademark finishing ability, hammering two sixes in the final over against Krunal Pandya. Watson, however, believes that had Dhoni been promoted earlier, CSK might have had a better chance of securing victory.

“If CSK had sent him in earlier, they would have had a better shot at crossing the line,” Watson added. “Of course, the crowd absolutely loved what he did tonight, but if he had come in sooner, CSK might have had a stronger shot at victory.”

However, CSK라이브 바카라 batting order has raised concerns, with several questionable calls in their game against RCB. Watson also pointed out the struggles of Deepak Hooda and the surprising decision to open with Rahul Tripathi instead of Ruturaj Gaikwad. “CSK hasn’t got their combinations right, and they need to make a few adjustments,” he said.

However after the match CSK head coach Stephen Fleming admitted that the team has struggled to read the Chepauk pitch in recent years. Despite historically favoring spin, the surface has not provided the expected advantage, forcing CSK to adapt. During the IPL 2025 auction, the franchise bolstered its spin department, but in their second home game of the season, conditions seemed to favor pace bowling instead.

This was evident in their clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar exploited the conditions brilliantly, returning combined figures of 4 for 41 in seven overs to derail CSK라이브 바카라 chase of 197. After the defeat, Fleming acknowledged that there has been no real home advantage at Chepauk for some time.

In IPL 2024, fast bowlers took 74 wickets at Chepauk, while spinners managed only 25, reinforcing how the pitch has evolved away from CSK라이브 바카라 traditional strengths.

"Well, as we've been telling you for a number of years, there was no home advantage at Chepauk," Fleming said in the post-match press conference. "We've won away from home a couple of times. And we haven't been able to read… we've been really honest with you. We haven't been able to read the wickets here in the last couple of years. So, it's not new. We are trying to come to grips each day with what we get, and we don't know."