Most of Dhoni’s runs came when matches were out of reach: Aakash
MS Dhoni, the former Indian captain and current Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper, has been a stalwart in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for years. However, his recent form has been a subject of debate among cricket enthusiasts. Former Indian batter Aakash Chopra has now added fuel to the fire by questioning the impact of Dhoni’s batting in the IPL.
In a recent interview, Chopra pointed out that most of Dhoni’s runs in the IPL have come when the matches were already out of reach. He based his statement on the data from the last couple of seasons, stating that Dhoni has consistently batted at position seven or lower in every single innings during this period.
Furthermore, Chopra also revealed that Dhoni has batted at positions eight or nine about 45% of the time during this period. This statistic raises questions about the relevance of Dhoni’s batting in the CSK lineup, especially considering the team’s dismal performance in the IPL 2025 campaign.
Dhoni’s batting average in the IPL has been on a decline in recent seasons, and his recent form has been a major concern for the CSK management. The team’s poor performance has led to widespread criticism, with many experts and fans questioning Dhoni’s ability to lead the team to victory.
Aakash Chopra’s statement has sparked a heated debate in the cricketing community, with many fans and experts weighing in on the issue. While some have defended Dhoni’s batting ability, others have echoed Chopra’s sentiments, questioning the relevance of the former Indian captain in the CSK lineup.
One of the main concerns is that Dhoni’s batting has become increasingly inconsistent, with many of his innings ending in a whimper rather than a bang. His lack of big scores has put pressure on the other batsmen in the CSK lineup, and his inability to accelerate the scoring rate has often seen the team struggling to post competitive totals.
Moreover, Chopra’s statistics also suggest that Dhoni’s batting has been mostly ineffective in the powerplay overs. In the last couple of seasons, Dhoni has batted at positions seven or lower in almost every innings, which means he has not been able to face the new ball and set the tone for the innings.
Another point of contention is that Dhoni’s batting has been heavily reliant on his ability to get lucky. He has often been bowled by loose deliveries or has benefited from dropped catches to score runs. While luck plays a significant role in cricket, it is not a sustainable strategy for a team to rely on luck to win matches.
In conclusion, Aakash Chopra’s statement has raised some valid points about the impact of MS Dhoni’s batting on the CSK team. While Dhoni is an iconic figure in Indian cricket, his recent form has been a major concern for the CSK management. The team’s poor performance in the IPL 2025 campaign has led to widespread criticism, and Chopra’s statistics have only added fuel to the fire.
The CSK management will need to take a hard look at Dhoni’s batting and decide whether he is still the right man for the job. If not, they will need to look for alternative options to stabilize the batting lineup and lead the team to victory.
