Former India opener Aakash Chopra has joined the list to criticize CSK’s strange tactics during their IPL 2025 game against RCB at Chennai. Chopra was unhappy with Chennai Super Kings sending MS Dhoni at No. 9 in the batting order.
During the match, Ravichandran Ashwin walked in to bat at No. 8, a step higher than MS Dhoni, who walked out to the crease at No. 9. Chopra was highly critical of this approach and claimed that the situation didn’t make any sense to send Ashwin over Dhoni.
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Aakash Chopra breaks silence on MS Dhoni’s batting spot
Aakash Chopra took to social media to express his disagreement and asked the team management to send MS Dhoni up the batting order given his hard-hitting form lately.
According to him, Chennai Super Kings would have more chances of winning a game with Dhoni batting up the order. Although Chennai fans want Dhoni to hit sixes, they also want their home team to win games.
“CSK fans really love the sight of Dhoni walking into the middle and smashing sixes. But CSK fans must also want their team to win. And with the kind of hitting form that Dhoni has shown off-late, it’s only logical to expect him to give himself enough time to win games for CSK. Ashwin ahead of Dhoni vs RCB didn’t make sense,” Chopra posted on X(formerly Twitter).
CSK fans really love the sight of Dhoni walking into the middle and smashing sixes.
But CSK fans must also want their team to win. And with the kind of hitting form that Dhoni has shown off-late, it’s only logical to expect him to give himself enough time to win games for CSK.…— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 28, 2025
Former CSK players slam team’s strategy
Not only just Aakash Chopra, former CSK players Irfan Pathan and Robin Uthappa were also baffled with this strategy as they hoped for Dhoni to bat higher up the order. Both the players took to social media to vent out their frustration.
While Pathan termed Dhoni batting down the order “not ideal” for CSK, Uthappa feels that the team missed the trick by not sending Dhoni above as it could have helped their Net Run Rate.
Over the last few years, Dhoni has been pushing himself way down the order and often backs himself to go only in the death overs. The decision to drop himself to No. 9 further puts question marks over his role in the team.
MS Dhoni’s late cameo
MS Dhoni was expected to come in to bat after Shivam Dube was dismissed in the 13th over of the match. However, Ravichandran Ashwin came ahead of Dhoni which surprised a few.
After Ashwin was dismissed in the 16th over, Dhoni finally arrived at the crease, much to the delight of the crowd. He entertained the crowd with a few lusty blows but it was too late in the end.
Dhoni remained not out on 30 off just 16 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. Despite his entertainment, Super Kings lost the match by a big margin of 50 runs.
