Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra was critical of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni’s form with the bat, saying CSK is playing with only 10 players plus a specialist captain in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) in the UAE.
Dhoni has so far managed just 52 runs at an average of 10.40 and a strike rate of 108.33 – which are the worst numbers for him during his stint with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in the 10 matches in the ongoing IPL 2021. However, the CSK is currently leading the IPL 14 points table with 16 points.
However, the cricket analyst has pointed out that without Dhoni's captaincy, CSK would neither have made a comeback from the two-year ban in 2018 nor would they have reached the top of the table in the ongoing season following their disastrous outing in IPL 2020 in the UAE.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “He's currently only playing like a captain and wicketkeeper because either he bats so down the order or not at all. Sometimes when he gets to bat, he isn't able to do much. So the truth is that CSK is playing with 10 players and he's there as a captain. But this is another interesting bit about Dhoni - this team can only be run by him.”
The former opener further added, “CSK's turnaround, the comeback and the transformation to the "Champion Super Kings" is only because MS Dhoni's captaincy. If he had not been there this environment would not have been created. So when the big auction arrives, maybe you want MS Dhoni on your side to make and run his team before moving forward to the future.”
On being asked whether CSK will retain Dhoni for the IPL 2022, Chopra said that if the three-time IPL champions would strictly go on the basis of form, age, and the mega-auction factor, they wouldn’t logically retain him, but the CSK-Dhoni relationship is “emotional” and he can stay as captain for the next season and then will become the mentor of the side.
Chopra further noted, “If you look at it on the basis of form, his age, and the mega auction for a three-year term, they should not logically retain him. But Dhoni-CSK is not logical, it's emotional. When you make an emotional investment, you see your kid as the most beautiful, the most talented human and that's the kind of relationship they have.”
He concluded, “I believe he'll stay for another year and try and run the team because there are only six months between this IPL and the next. He'll stay there like a captain for now and then probably become a mentor later, Mentor Singh Dhoni.”
