Experts discuss CSK’s decision to bat MS Dhoni for just three balls against SRH in the 2024 IPl

Notably, after making an appearance against the Delhi Capitals and scoring an undefeated 37 off only 16 balls with four boundaries and three sixes, there were rumors that MS Dhoni would be moved up in the order. On April 5 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) suffered their second straight defeat in the ongoing IPL 2024, losing by six wickets against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Despite being batting first, CSK was able to score a respectable 166 runs on the slow Hyderabad surface.

Experts pointed to the CSK management’s and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad’s choice to send MS Dhoni in at number seven as a major factor in their loss. Some who supported the wicketkeeper-batter’s elevation up the batting order included former CSK player Shane Watson and cricket analyst Brett Lee, particularly following his brilliant effort against Delhi despite their defeat.

Dhoni’s return to the top of the batting order has drawn criticism from former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan. If Dhoni had batted up the order, Pathan suggested, he could have been able to dominate bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jaydev Unadkat.

“MS Dhoni, the right-hand batsman, should have batted up the order in this match vs. SRH, considering off-cutter planning in to the pitch and match up against Bhuvi and Unadkat,” Pathan posted on X following CSK’s loss. Michael Vaughan and Simon Doull, two former cricket players, also expressed their amazement at CSK’s approach to Cricbuzz.

“Considering what he accomplished in the previous game, I’m shocked he didn’t take the field sooner. The former England captain remarked, “I don’t understand why he’s only been out there for three balls.”

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He possesses the strength and ability to strike those slower balls, according to Doull. He has done it before, and we have seen it, but I was a little taken aback.

In the end, SRH bowled brilliantly, controlled the game, and prevented us from taking advantage of: Gaikwad

In the second half of CSK’s innings, Ruturaj Gaikwad, the captain, admitted that SRH demonstrated a tough bowling strategy and CSK lost all control. When the hosts scored 78 runs during the powerplay with just one wicket lost, the opening batsman thought that his team was already lost.

It was a slow pitch, I believe, to be honest. Their late-inning bowling was excellent; they controlled the game and prevented us from making any runs. I felt we played a good first half of the match, but they played a strong second half. During the post-match presentation, Gaikwad remarked, “We conceded too many in the batting PP, one dropped catch, and one expensive over.”