IPL 2024: Experts question CSK's move to bat MS Dhoni for just three balls against SRH

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faced their second consecutive loss in the ongoing IPL 2024, succumbing to a six-wicket loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 5 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. After being put into bat first, CSK managed to post a modest total of 166 runs on the sluggish Hyderabad track. Notably, there was speculation that Dhoni could be sent ahead in the order after his cameo against Delhi Capitals, where he scored an unbeaten 37 off just 16 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes, 

Experts questioned captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and the CSK management for their decision to send Dhoni in at No. 7, citing it as a significant reason for their defeat. Former CSK player Shane Watson and cricket expert Brett Lee were among those who advocated for the wicketkeeper-batter's promotion up the batting order, especially after his explosive innings against Delhi despite their loss.

Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan raised doubts about the approach of keeping Dhoni back in the batting order. Pathan suggested that Dhoni could have potentially taken charge against bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jaydev Unadkat if he batted up the order.

“Considering off cutter planning in to the pitch and match up against Bhuvi and Unadkat, Dhoni the right hand batsman should have batted up the order in this match vs SRH,” Pathan wrote on X after CSK's defeat. 

Also read: One thing I like about Cummins is he is bit like MS Dhoni: Tom Moody

Former cricketers Michael Vaughan and Simon Doull also expressed their surprise at CSK's strategy while speaking on Cricbuzz.

“On the back of what he did in the last game, I'm amazed he did not come out to bat earlier. I can't understand why he's been out there for just three balls,” said the former England captain.

Doull said, “He has the ability and power to hit those slower balls. We have seen it, he has done it in the past, but I was a bit surprised.”

SRH bowled well in the back-end, kept the game in control and didn't allow us to capitalise: Gaikwad 

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad acknowledged that SRH displayed a formidable bowling plan in the latter part of CSK's innings and they completely lost control. The opening batter also believed that his side's defeat was sealed when the hosts amassed 78 runs for the loss of just one wicket inside the powerplay.

Also read: IPL 2024: SRH vs CSK Match 18 Highlights: Unmissable video recap, turning points, match analysis, stats, and more

"I think to be honest, it was a slow pitch. They bowled well in the back-end, kept the game in control and didn't allow us to capitalise. I thought we did well in the beginning (of the match), but they came back well later. We conceded too many in the batting PP, one dropped catch and one expensive over," Gaikwad said during the post-match presentation.