MS Dhoni’s decision to bat at No.9 during Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) chase against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) left fans and experts stunned. While Dhoni has been known to walk in late, this time, even his most ardent supporters found it tough to digest.
During CSK’s 197-run chase, Dhoni batted lower than Sam Curran, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, and even Ravichandran Ashwin—a move that raised eyebrows, considering his legendary finishing skills. Though at 43, Dhoni is not the player he once was, sending him in after Ashwin was a decision that defied logic, especially when the required run rate had soared beyond 16 runs per over.
Sehwag’s Savage Take on Dhoni’s Late Entry
Former India opener Virender Sehwag, known for his sharp humor, couldn’t resist taking a dig at Dhoni’s batting position. Speaking on the Cricbuzz post-match show, Sehwag joked:
“Jaldi aa gaye na? (He came out to bat early),”
His remark sparked laughter, with Manoj Tiwary chiming in, suggesting that Dhoni might have waited till No.10 if he had the chance. Sehwag further added:
“He usually comes in the 19th or 20th over, so technically, he did arrive early. Either that, or his batters lost wickets too quickly.”
Despite the late entry, Dhoni smashed 30 off 16 balls, boasting the highest strike rate (187.5) among CSK batters. However, his knock was merely damage control, as RCB sealed a dominant 50-run win.
Dhoni’s Justification—Does It Hold Up?
In a recent Jio interview, Dhoni explained his decision to bat lower, claiming he wanted to give young players a chance to prove themselves for the Indian T20I squad. But against RCB, this logic seemed weak, as both Jadeja and Ashwin—who batted ahead of him—are already retired from T20Is.
So, why did MSD come in at No.9? That remains a mystery, and as Sehwag jokingly put it—maybe next time, we’ll see him at No.10!
