Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar believes as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) strive to put their campaign back on track in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 after successive defeats, they need their skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to be at his incisive best once again. 

After winning the opening game of IPL 2020 against defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI), CSK suffered painful losses to Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC). 

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Manjrekar stressed on the Dhoni factor that will always be there giving hope to CSK, as cricketing pundits and even their die-hard fans begin to lose confidence on the three-time champions. 

"Chennai Super Kings as a team has rarely been under pressure in the league stage. This time they are. Even their die-hard fans have gone quiet on social media, they seem a little concerned. They look towards MS Dhoni for salvation," wrote Manjrekar in his column for the Times of India. 

"Chennai's approach has been very unique in the tournament, it's a team that is the opposite of Mumbai, who have virtually every member in their team capable of winning a T20 game on their own."

"Chennai may not compare match-winnings well, in this regard, but as a unit, it is as match-winning one. And for this to happen they need Dhoni at the helm."

"Any other captain would not be able to extract what Dhoni does from this team and when Chennai eventually have to look at life beyond Dhoni we may see a completely different structure of the team, unless Dhoni still remains the cricket nerve centre of the franchise, then maybe not. But this would be interesting to see this in the coming years."

"For now, Dhoni has some small, clinical cricketing issues to sort out - on a good pitch he must have an additional bowling option, most teams are now starting to do that. At Chennai they could afford to rely on Jadeja to bowl his 4, in UAE for now at least, it's an unreliable tactic," he added. 

In the build-up to their next match versus Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Dubai, CSK must've been pleased to learnt that their key players, batsman Ambati Rayudu and all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, have gradually recovered from their injuries and could well feature in the line-up on Friday (October 2). 

Manjrekar feels this is an opportunity for CSK to bolster their attack while still retaining strength in the top six and get back to winning ways. 

"Chennai can easily afford to drop a batsman to have more bowling strength. Vijay would most likely be replaced by Ambati Rayudu in tonight's game, so that should bolster their batting, but bowling, well…perhaps if Rituraj Gaekwad is batting in the middle, might as well leave him out and get in a pure bowler."

"It's really tough for a kid to bat in the middle in this tournament. They can instead have a bowler they can bank on to bowl his 4 overs. Bravo, Tahir are the obvious options."

From SRH's point of view, Manjrekar welcomed the reinclusion of Kane Williamson, last match's hero versus Delhi Capitals (DC), but thinks the team still lacks that one dependable Indian middle-order rock behind him and their famed opening duo of David Warner and Jonny Bairstow, who also haven't been at their best. 

"Hyderabad finally had a win, just when they were looking really lacklustre, they beat the fancied Delhi. Was it a convincing win, which may trigger a long term upward graph, I am not so sure."

"If not for Kane Williamson's brilliance, Hyderabad would have lost the game. Warner for the first time in tournament history is not looking as formidable as he usually does, although he got a 50, I am not yet convinced with Bairstow's form and self-confidence."

In the bowling department at least, the performance of left-arm seamer T Natarajan was a cause of delight for a team majorly dependent on Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rashid Khan. 

"Williamson in the playing XI now makes Hyderabad look a much better batting side, also one other significant thing that happened in the last game, was we finally knew why Natarajan their left-arm seamer, was being played ahead of Sandeep Sharma, Kaul and Thampi."

"Well, Natarajan can bowl the old fashioned, classical yorkers at will and with control. Batting has evolved over the years and now it has got 360-degree range," Manjrekar concluded.