Former India cricketer and renowned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar appreciates MS Dhoni for acknowledging his limitations as a batsman as he ages. Dhoni hasn't been able to strike the ball in the last Indian Premier League (IPL) like he used to before.
Manjrekar pointed out that Dhoni decided to send Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran ahead of him to in a few matches of IPL 2021 which shows "he has come to terms with the facts of life and aging".
“What was noticeable was Mahendra Singh Dhoni himself realizing his limitations as an impact player. He was more in the background. He was more a captain than a batter. Shows that a great man has come to terms with the facts of life and aging as well,” he said on Instagram (presented by Dafa News).
The 56-year-old feels Dhoni is respecting his age and he's now more than ever before into his captaincy role; putting off some weight from his batting.
“It seemed like the penny finally seemed to have dropped on Mahendra Singh Dhoni," he said. "He realized that aging is a thing he had to respect and you can see a slightly different approach from Chennai.”
Manjrekar further talked about the two important batsmen for CSK, Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu. He said CSK would be concerned about their local aging players.
“In Rayudu and Raina, they have local aging players," he said. "Raina is showing signs of rustiness. Rayudu, towards the end of the last half, showed some signs of form.”
CSK captain Dhoni has used the England all-rounder Moeen Ali very well in the first phase of IPL 2021. Manjrekar lauded him for taking out the best of a player under his leadership.
"Moeen Ali was a revelation in the last half with his batting at the top of the order," Manjrekar said. "This is what Dhoni does, he gets the best out of people. He is a talented player, Moeen Ali. He has the ability to hit good balls for fours and sixes."
South African batsman Faf du Plessis has been struggling with his fitness lately. He had suffered a concussion during the Pakistan Super League which troubled him in the last few months.
Manjrekar knows the importance of Du Plessis in the team. “He is going to be a key player at the top of the order along with Faf du Plessis," he said.
