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The Debate Around Dhoni’s Batting Position
As the cricket world gets ready for another exciting season of the Indian Premier League, a new discussion has started around one of the game’s most legendary names — MS Dhoni. This time, the debate began after a comment from experienced Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara, who openly questioned Dhoni’s current batting position for the Chennai Super Kings.
Pujara recently shared his opinion during a cricket discussion and said that he doesn’t really see the logic behind Dhoni coming in to bat at No. 8 or No. 9. His simple but direct comment — “I don’t see a point in Dhoni batting at No. 8 or 9” — quickly grabbed attention. Within a short time, fans, analysts, and former players started discussing the issue, especially with the IPL 2026 season approaching.
The comment has once again brought back an ongoing debate about Dhoni’s role in the CSK lineup. Many people are now talking about where exactly the legendary captain should bat and how the team should use his experience in the later stages of his career.
If we look back at the last few IPL seasons, Dhoni’s role in the batting order has clearly changed. Earlier in his career, he was known as one of the most dangerous finishers in T20 cricket and regularly batted in the middle order, often coming in around No. 5 or No. 6. At that time, he had enough overs left to control the chase, build partnerships, and finish games in his trademark style.
However, things have been slightly different in recent seasons. Fans have often seen Dhoni walking out to bat much later in the innings, sometimes when only a few overs — or even a few balls — are left. In several matches, he has come in as low as No. 8 or even No. 9, which means he doesn’t always get enough time to make a big impact with the bat.
According to many cricket experts, this change in his batting position is connected to fitness and injury concerns. Over the past few years, Dhoni has been dealing with knee problems, which have occasionally affected his movement and running between the wickets. Because of this, the team management has tried to manage his workload carefully during matches.
The idea behind sending him late is fairly simple. By keeping him fresh and avoiding long batting stints, the team can ensure that he still has the energy to perform his important role behind the stumps and guide the bowlers as captain on the field. When he comes in during the final overs, his job is mainly to play a few powerful shots and close out the innings.
While this strategy does have its advantages, some experts feel it also has a downside. When Dhoni bats so late, he sometimes faces only a handful of deliveries, which reduces the chances of him influencing the game in a bigger way. Considering his reputation as one of the best finishers the sport has ever seen, many fans feel that he could contribute more if he had a little extra time at the crease.
This is exactly the point Cheteshwar Pujara was trying to make. His comment wasn’t meant as criticism but more as a cricketing observation. From his perspective, a player with Dhoni’s experience, calmness under pressure, and finishing ability could potentially have a bigger impact if he came in slightly earlier.
Pujara’s Strong Opinion
While speaking on a cricket discussion show ahead of the upcoming IPL season, Cheteshwar Pujara shared his honest opinion about MS Dhoni’s role in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting order. Pujara explained that he feels the team might not be fully using Dhoni’s batting ability by sending him so far down the order.
During the conversation, Pujara clearly said that he doesn’t really understand the idea of Dhoni batting at No. 8 or No. 9. In his view, a player of Dhoni’s experience and finishing ability could have a bigger impact if he gets more time at the crease.
Pujara said something along the lines of, “I don’t see a point in MS Dhoni batting at number 8 or 9. He still has the ability to change the game on his own. If he is coming in only for five or ten balls, imagine what Mahi bhai could do if he gets to face 25 or 30 deliveries.”
His statement quickly caught attention because it raises an interesting point. Even though Dhoni is in the later stage of his career, many people still believe he has the power and experience to turn matches around. If he were to bat a little higher in the order, he could have more time to settle at the crease and play a bigger role in shaping the innings.
Why CSK Might Prefer the Current Strategy
Even though some people have questioned the decision, there are also practical reasons why Chennai Super Kings (CSK) might prefer to keep MS Dhoni lower in the batting order. One of the biggest factors is his age and physical workload. At around 44 years old, it becomes very important to manage his fitness carefully during a long and demanding tournament like the IPL.
Batting higher in the order would mean spending much more time at the crease, running between the wickets more often, and staying on the field for longer periods. That can put extra pressure on the body, especially for someone who is already dealing with occasional injury concerns. Over the past few seasons, Dhoni has had some knee issues, and the team management has clearly been trying to manage his workload smartly so that he remains fit throughout the tournament.
By sending him to bat in the final few overs, CSK can make sure that he doesn’t have to go through long batting spells. Instead, he can focus on doing what he has always done best — finishing the innings strongly. In this role, he usually comes in when the team needs a few quick boundaries or some powerful hits at the end, which reduces the need for a lot of running between the wickets.
Another important reason behind this strategy is the changing structure of the CSK squad. Over the last few seasons, the franchise has tried to bring in younger players and give them more responsibility in the batting lineup. By strengthening the top order and middle order with fresh talent, the team allows Dhoni to take on a more specialised role toward the end of the innings.
This approach also helps the younger players gain confidence and experience in pressure situations. At the same time, Dhoni remains there as a guiding figure who can step in during crucial moments. His presence in the dressing room and on the field still plays a huge role in the team’s overall performance.
Fans Divided Over the Issue
As soon as Cheteshwar Pujara’s comments came out, they quickly started spreading across social media. Cricket fans everywhere began discussing the topic, and before long it had turned into a full-blown debate. Whenever the conversation involves MS Dhoni, it’s almost guaranteed to grab attention, and this situation was no different.
A lot of fans actually agreed with Pujara’s opinion. They believe that Dhoni should probably come in to bat a little earlier in the innings so that he gets more time at the crease. According to these supporters, if Dhoni faces 20 or 30 balls instead of just five or ten, he could still produce the kind of match-winning innings that fans remember from his prime years.
Many of them pointed out that even in recent IPL seasons, Dhoni’s strike rate has remained impressive. Whenever he comes out to bat, he still shows the ability to hit big sixes and change the momentum of the game in a matter of minutes. Because of that, some fans feel that giving him more deliveries to play could allow him to have a bigger impact on matches.
However, not everyone agrees with this view. There are also plenty of fans and analysts who support CSK’s current strategy. They believe the team management knows exactly how to use Dhoni’s experience and skills at this stage of his career.
According to this group of supporters, Dhoni’s value to the team is much bigger than just the number of runs he scores. His leadership, tactical thinking, and calm presence are still extremely important for the team. Even when he is not batting for long, he continues to play a huge role in guiding the side during matches.
On the field, Dhoni is constantly involved in helping the bowlers with strategies, adjusting field placements, and reading the game situation better than almost anyone else. His experience in high-pressure moments often helps the team stay calm and focused, especially during tight matches.
He also plays a big role in mentoring younger players in the squad. Many young cricketers in the CSK camp have spoken about how much they learn simply by watching Dhoni or listening to his advice. In that sense, his contribution goes far beyond what fans see on the scoreboard.
No matter where he bats in the lineup, Dhoni’s influence on the Chennai Super Kings franchise remains massive. Over the years, he has led the team to several IPL titles and helped build one of the most consistent and successful teams in the history of the league. His leadership style and ability to handle pressure have become a huge part of CSK’s identity.
Even when Dhoni walks onto the field for a short cameo, the reaction from the crowd shows just how much he means to the fans. The stadium atmosphere instantly changes, with supporters cheering loudly and hoping to see a few of his trademark big hits.
What Lies Ahead in IPL 2026?
With the IPL 2026 season getting closer, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will once again find themselves under a lot of attention. As one of the most successful teams in the history of the league, expectations are always high whenever CSK takes the field. Fans will be hoping that the team puts together a strong campaign and challenges for another IPL trophy.
Naturally, a lot of the focus will once again be on MS Dhoni and the role he plays in the team. One question that many people are curious about is where he will bat in the lineup this season. In recent years, Dhoni has mostly come in during the final overs, but it’s still unclear whether the team will continue with that approach or try something slightly different.
There is always a possibility that CSK might experiment a little with the batting order depending on the match situation. If the team feels that Dhoni needs to come in earlier in certain games, they could easily make that change. At the end of the day, the decision will depend on several factors — including the overall balance of the team, the performance of the top order, and of course Dhoni’s fitness and physical condition during the tournament.
But one thing is absolutely certain. As long as MS Dhoni is part of the CSK squad, every time he walks onto the field it will remain a special moment for cricket fans. Whether he bats for two overs or ten balls, the excitement among the crowd is always the same. Supporters still wait eagerly to see those trademark powerful shots and calm finishing moments that have defined his career for so many years.
In many ways, the debate that started after Cheteshwar Pujara’s comment actually highlights just how great Dhoni’s legacy is. Even after playing in the IPL for more than a decade, people still believe that he has the ability to change the result of a match with a single innings. That kind of trust and expectation from fans and experts doesn’t happen by accident — it comes from years of delivering in pressure situations.
Dhoni has built a reputation as someone who thrives when the stakes are high. Time and again, he has guided his teams to victory with calm decision-making and clever game awareness. Because of this, fans still feel that whenever Dhoni is at the crease, the match is never completely out of reach.
Whether he ends up batting at No. 6, No. 8, or even No. 9, his presence alone keeps the Chennai Super Kings among the most watched and discussed teams in the IPL. Stadiums fill up when he plays, television viewership rises, and social media lights up every time he walks out to bat.
As the IPL 2026 season approaches, this conversation about Dhoni’s role is only likely to grow stronger. Some fans will continue to believe he should bat higher, while others will trust CSK’s strategy of using him mainly as a late finisher.
But regardless of where he bats, one thing remains clear — MS Dhoni’s impact on CSK and on the IPL itself is still enormous, and that is exactly why discussions about him continue to dominate the cricketing world.
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