Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend MS Dhoni walked out to bat at No. 9 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Chepauk on Friday (March 28), much to the shock of the fans and former cricketers alike.

While Dhoni scored 30 not out off 16 balls with three boundaries and two sixes, CSK fell 50 runs short in the chase of 197.

After the game, a section of CSK fans expressed their frustration in media. One fan questioned the quality of cricket displayed by the five-time champions, stating that they had let their passionate supporters down.

The likes of Sam Curran, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin batted ahead of Dhoni, which prompted some of the fans to question CSK's strategy.

Speaking to Chennai Waalaa YouTube channel, an emotional CSK fan urged the franchise not to take supporters for granted.

"The team selection is wrong. Deepak Hooda cannot deliver every time. I don't understand how he was picked in the auction. And why is Rahul Tripathi opening? On top of that, the crowd is chanting 'Dhoni, Dhoni'. He could have come in the 13th over, but he didn't. Tickets are being resold on the black market for ?12,000 to ?15,000. It's being hyped up like an Ajith (Kumar) or Vijay film," the fan said.

He also urged the 43-year-old Dhoni to retire after the 2025 season. "How long will this craze continue? It's pointless! I hope he retires by the end of the season. How long can we, as fans, continue being taken for fools?"

Another fan opined that a vintage Dhoni would have come in to bat in the 13th over rather than waiting until the 16th. "I love MS Dhoni. But as a true CSK fan, I can't accept him batting at No. 9. It doesn't look right. It felt like there was no intent. The Dhoni I used to know was different. As a finisher, he should have batted higher up the order," he stated.

Another disappointed fan suggested that Dhoni should play as an Impact Substitute instead of occupying a spot in the playing XI.

Coming to the match, RCB posted a massive score of 196/7 on the board after being asked to bat first. Skipper Rajat Patidar led his team from the front as he slammed a magnificent half-century (51 of 32) while Tim David (22* off 8) provided a strong finish with three consecutive sixes in the final over.

In reply, CSK finished their innings on 146/8 in 20 overs. Josh Hazlewood (3/21 in 4 overs), Yash Dayal (2/18 in 3 overs), and Liam Livingstone (2/28 in 4 overs) ran through Chennai’s batting line-up.