On May 5 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, MS Dhoni batted at No. 9 against the Punjab Kings. His former teammate Harbhajan Singh expressed confusion over the choice and suggested that CSK would benefit more from playing a fast bowler in that position.
With an incredible strike rate of 224.49, Dhoni has been in incredible form this IPL. In 49 balls faced in the IPL 2024, he has struck nine sixes and ten fours. Nonetheless, the 42-year-old has established himself in the lower middle order, where he often plays a small number of deliveries and looks to score as many runs as he can.
He batted at No. 8 in a few games last season, and he has continued to do so. But for the first time in his remarkable T20 career, he batted at No. 9 on Sunday. He was out for a golden duck when Harshal Patel outplayed him with a slower, dipping delivery that caught the off-stump back.
Accusing Dhoni of being the team’s decision-maker, Harbhajan questioned his decision to bat at number nine, even behind seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur. If Dhoni isn’t able to bat above No. 9, the former spinner believes CSK should select a pacer in his place.
Also read: For CSK, MS Dhoni batting at No. 9 doesn’t work: Irfan Pathan
Should MS Dhoni wish to bat at number nine, he should not play. He should not be in the playing XI; a fast bowler should. Since he makes the decisions, he has let his team down by choosing not to bat,” Harbhajan stated on Star Sports. “Shardul Thakur came before him. I don’t know why Dhoni made this error, and Thakur can never hit shots as well as Dhoni can. I refuse to accept that someone else made the decision to demote him because nothing occurs without his consent.”
To stay in the running for the playoffs, CSK defeated PBKS.
Ravindra Jadeja scored 43 off 26 to help Chennai score 167/9; skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad added 32 off 21; and Daryl Mitchell added 30 off 19 to help the team score. With three wickets apiece, Rahul Chahar and Harshal were Punjab’s strongest bowlers on display.
The in-form Jonny Bairstow was among the two batters who Punjab lost in the second over of their reply. Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh’s 53-run collaboration helped to partially rebuild them. But when they were out in quick succession, wickets fell often, and the Kings were eventually reduced to 139/9, a loss of 28 runs. Following his valiant efforts at bat, Jadeja bowled brilliantly, taking three wickets in his outing. Also taking two wickets apiece were Simarjeet Singh and Tushar Deshpande.
Right now, CSK is ranked third in the points standings. On Friday, May 10, they will take on the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
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