In IPL 2023, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have won almost all their matches, and much of the credit goes to the former Indian captain MS Dhoni. The captain’s leadership and performance have been highly effective for the team. However, there have been concerns over his fitness, which have led to questions about whether he should bat higher up the order.
Jadeja not keen on batting higher
Ravindra Jadeja, the experienced all-rounder and the second-most capped CSK cricketer, has been batting ahead of Dhoni in almost every match. However, he is not keen on batting higher. Despite the experience and confidence he has gained from playing in the middle order, the constant chants of ‘Dhoni, Dhoni’ from the stands can be daunting for those who bat ahead of Dhoni. This shows the love and admiration the fans have for Dhoni and also speaks volumes about the impact that he has left on the game.
Jadeja’s concern stems from the fact that if he bats higher up the order and gets out, the fans might become impatient and wait for Dhoni to walk out. The all-rounder is content to play his role in the team, even if it means batting at number 6 or lower. Jadeja was declared Player of the Match for his all-round show against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Wednesday.
Dhoni’s position in the batting order
Dhoni has been very happy to bat at number 7 or lower this season, leaving the top-order batsmen to score most of the runs. However, with the kind of form he has shown with the bat, there is a popular demand to see him bat higher. Dhoni’s strike rate of 204 in this IPL is impressive, and although he hasn’t batted for long in any of the matches, he has left an impact almost every time he has walked out to bat.
In the match against DC, Dhoni came in to bat at number 8 and scored 20 off just 9 balls, blasting two sixes and a four in the 19th over to help CSK post 167/8. This is what he has been doing all season – coming in towards the end of the innings and scoring quick runs to boost the total.
CSK’s winning formula has been their balanced side, with a good mix of experienced and young players. Jadeja’s all-round performances have been instrumental in their success this season. In the match against DC, he scored 21 off 16 and picked up 1/19. Dhoni, too, has been a vital cog in the team’s wheel, not just as captain but also as a batsman.
