IPL 2025: Is No. 9 too low for MS Dhoni? Where should he bat for CSK, or is it time for the team to move beyond him?
Imagine a situation where home fans cheer when their own team loses a wicket. This is precisely the case with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) supporters, who celebrate when the seventh or eighth wicket falls, as it means their beloved MS Dhoni is about to bat. For them, winning the match seems secondary as long as their ‘Thala’ entertains with boundaries in the final overs.
Although CSK lost to RCB by 50 runs in their IPL 2025 clash on Saturday, their fans still had their moment of joy. Batting at No. 9, Dhoni smashed 3 fours and 2 sixes in an unbeaten 30 off 16 balls. The defeat has almost become a footnote in comparison.
But does it benefit the team if Dhoni bats so late just for the fans? Would CSK be better served if he came in earlier? Should Dhoni bat at No. 5 or 6, ahead of players like Sam Curran, Deepak Hooda, and R Ashwin, to improve CSK’s chances of winning?
Dhoni’s impactful cameos last season
It may be recalled that Dhoni also batted lower down the order in IPL 2024. He faced only a few balls per innings but compensated with quick cameos. Dhoni played just 73 balls last season but maintained an impressive strike rate of 220.54. For the record, he struck 14 fours and 13 sixes, averaging 53.66 while scoring 161 runs in 14 matches.
The reason cited for Dhoni’s lower batting position were his troublesome knees, which limited his ability to take quick singles and doubles. However, those short yet impactful knocks worked well for CSK last season, as they had a stable and consistent top and middle order.
Dhoni’s fitness and form warrant a higher batting position
Post knee surgery, MS Dhoni is back to full fitness. During the practice sessions ahead of IPL 2025, he looked in great touch, effortlessly hitting sixes in a video released for the fans. However, the team management has continued with his old batting position this season, which is definitely not helping the team.
In the clash against RCB, Dhoni, batting at No. 9, looked in good form as he rotated the strike, ran quick ones and twos, and took charge in the last over, blasting two sixes and a four off Krunal Pandya. If Dhoni is fit, he should be given a spot ahead of Curran, Ashwin, and Hooda, as the chase master can build his innings and either take the team across the finish line or end with a flourish. His experience of batting deep can only benefit the team if he gets more balls to play. Otherwise, batting as low as No. 8 or No. 9 would leave him with little time to make an impact.
In terms of keeping, Dhoni looks in prime touch, with his quick stumpings evoking awe and disbelief from all quarters. His safe hands remain among the best in the business. Moreover, his cricketing acumen and strategic insights could help captain Ruturaj Gaikwad plan his bowling changes and field placements more effectively.
Balancing Dhoni’s role: Team strategy vs. fan expectations
However, if the team management is sending Dhoni to bat at No. 8 or No. 9 to keep him fit for the remainder of the season and maintain brand value to attract fans, the team suffer in the bargain. Currently, fans seem too obsessed with their hero, Dhoni, to the point where winning or losing no longer matters as long as their favorite batter is hitting fours and sixes.
Former CSK player Ambati Rayudu remarked that local fans cheering or calling for their own player’s wicket just so Dhoni can come out to bat “does not serve the game well.” He added that other players are also giving their best for the team, and “things like these happening from their own crowd must be avoided.”
Time to look beyond Dhoni as keeper-cum-batsman
If keeping MS Dhoni in the XI is primarily to attract fans and maintain brand value, the team management must consider grooming another wicketkeeper to ease his workload. It’s almost certain that Dhoni may not play another season, so CSK should start preparing a successor under his guidance. Vansh Bedi, the 22-year-old CSK player, could be given opportunities in a few matches to see how he handles pressure situations.
Similarly, Devon Conway, another keeper-batter, could be tested while giving Dhoni some rest. The Kiwi star can be used as a floater, capable of batting anywhere in the lineup while also providing safe hands behind the stumps.
If needed, Dhoni could focus solely on batting, moving up the order to stabilise the innings, mentor his teammates, and even finish games. It would serve the fans better to see their hero winning matches rather than just entertaining them with a few fours and sixes.
