Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming explained the franchise’s decision-making process when it comes to when MS Dhoni will come into bat in ongoing IPL 2025 season.
On Sunday, Vijay Shankar became the fourth wicket to fall in the 12th over, giving Dhoni his first opportunity to bat, but Ravindra Jadeja joined Ruturaj Gaikwad. Dhoni went in with 54 to play off 25.
In their most recent match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), CSK lost their fifth and sixth wickets in the 13th over, but Jadeja and R Ashwin were sent to bat ahead of Dhoni, who fell at No. 9.
Following their loss to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach Stephen Fleming revealed the decision-making process behind probably this season's most contentious issue: Dhoni's entry spots.
"Yeah, it's a time thing. MS judges it. His body is… his knees aren't what they used to be. And he's moving okay, but there's still an attrition aspect to it. He can't bat ten overs running full stick. So he will gauge on the day what he can give us. If the game's in the balance like today, he will go a little bit earlier, and he backs other players when other opportunities are up. So he's balancing that,” Fleming said in post-match press conference, quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
It does not necessarily imply that the franchise is looking for methods to accommodate the 43-year-old. On the contrary, Fleming stated that Dhoni continued to be a valuable member of the team.
"I said it last year [as well], he's too valuable to us - leadership and wicket-keeping - to throw him in nine-ten overs. He has actually never done that. So, look, from around 13-14 overs, he's looking to go depending on who's in,” he added.
Since the Impact Player rule revived Dhoni's IPL career, he has yet to hit a boundary in a successful chase. It indicates that CSK does not bother hitting him once the result is known. Dhoni has also struggled to achieve victories in live chases.
CSK finds themselves in an unusual circumstance. They admit that they still need Dhoni's leadership on the field. Even if they prefer to rely on Dhoni's leadership from the sidelines, the only other Indian wicketkeeper they have has only played one match for his state in any format.
