Ravindra Jadeja should bat ahead of MS Dhoni in CSK: Sanjay Manjrekar

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar reckoned that Ravindra Jadeja should bat above MS Dhoni for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. The left-handed Jadeja was in scintillating form in the first leg of the 2021 IPL. In one of the games against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Wankhede Stadium, he laid into Harshal Patel, who leaked 37 runs in the last over of CSK’s innings.

Even Indian skipper Virat Kohli has promoted him up the order in the Test team on quite a few instances. Manjrekar also said that CSK will carry on with their decent run of form in the tournament. Back in 2020, the Super Kings had a disastrous run in the UAE as they failed to make it to the playoffs. But as per Manjrekar, change in approach has worked wonders for them in the T20 league.

“Jadeja should bat ahead of MS Dhoni. I think so (CSK will do well) because their approach has changed and Moeen Ali and Sam Curran have become impact players so they should perform better than the last time we saw them in UAE,” Manjrekar told to ESPNcricinfo.

Sanjay Manjrekar, Ian Bishop make their pick

Manjrekar stated that CSK should go for both Josh Hazlewood and Lungi Ngidi in the playing eleven. “I think Moeen Ali, they should get both their fast bowlers in Hazlewood and Lungi Ngidi. And if there is a little bit of turn, Imran Tahir,” Manjrekar added.

The Super Kings are most likely to miss out on the services of Faf du Plessis, who sustained a leg injury during the 2021 CPL while playing for the Saint Lucia Kings. Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop backed Ngidi, Hazlewood and Moeen Ali as CSK’s overseas picks.

“For the first game because of injuries, I will go with Moeen Ali, Josh Hazlewood and Lungi Ngidi,” Bishop said.

Bishop also stated that New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne should be a part of MI’s lineup. The veteran said that the speedster is brilliant form due to which he warrants a place in the eleven.

“Toss-up between Coulter Nile and Adam Milne. There is enough batting for MI so I think Adam Milne. Milne definitely should play. He is the form of his life,” Bishop added.