As much as his fans might not want to face it, MS Dhoni is having a tough time. While his wicketkeeping skills remain sharp, he’s not the same batter who used to intimidate opponents. At 43, he’s playing with worn-out knees, and the team seems to be struggling with its strategies and lineups. Batting lower in the order isn’t working for him or the team, and the fact that he can’t finish games—something he was known for—could tarnish his legacy at this point in his career.

In a recent match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Dhoni came in at No. 9 when the situation was dire. He managed to score 30 runs off 16 balls, but Chennai Super Kings still lost by 50 runs. Just two days later, he batted a bit higher against Rajasthan Royals but only managed 16 runs when the game was already out of reach for CSK. Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 63 off 44 balls, and Ravindra Jadeja was not out on 32 off 22, but their strike rates raise concerns for the team.

The bigger issue seems to be Dhoni himself. With the team struggling to find the right combinations, Harbhajan Singh believes that CSK's confusing strategy regarding their legendary player is significantly hurting the franchise. He shared some stats that highlight how Dhoni is no longer the powerhouse he once was.

"I want to share some stats. Dhoni sahab is a great player, but by the time he comes to bat, the match is usually over. Since IPL 2023, when Dhoni has batted in winning situations, he’s scored just 3 runs off 9 balls without hitting a single boundary or six. In contrast, in losing situations, he’s racked up 166 runs off 84 balls, including 13 fours and 13 sixes. This means he averages only 8 in matches CSK has won, while his average in losses is 49. Who wants to watch a team lose? I think this is a significant issue that CSK needs to address," Harbhajan mentioned on his YouTube channel.

Harbhajan talks about additional problems affecting CSK

The management team really needs to rethink their approach. They should send Dhoni up the order and let him do his thing. Just tell him to go for it, because if he starts scoring, that’s what really counts. If not, there’s not much to critique. He still hits well, but those stats just aren’t showing up.

On top of that, Harbhajan shared his thoughts on other factors dragging CSK down, starting with Gaikwad batting in the middle order and the absence of Devon Conway from the lineup. CSK has had more success when Gaikwad and Conway open together, but with both of them not in their usual spots, the former Indian spinner is puzzled by the team’s setup.

“Gaikwad has moved down the order, but he’s such a talented opener. CSK has always had great openers, whether it was Matthew Hayden, Brendon McCullum, or Devon Conway. Speaking of which, he’s in the squad but not playing. I just don’t get the team selection. They chose Craig Overton over Conway when they have such a solid lineup of Indian bowlers,” Harbhajan noted.

“They need to let these guys bat higher up and keep Rachin Ravindra Jadeja in the mix. That way, their batting would look a lot stronger. Right now, when Shivam Dube gets out, it feels like the game is over. They lack a batter who can consistently hit boundaries. Ruturaj played decently, but he didn’t show enough aggression. Even Jadeja’s innings was slow; he couldn’t find the big shots either.”

Read Also: Ravindra Jadeja's post for MS Dhoni breaks the internet amid CSK's poor IPL 2025 start

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!