MS Dhoni batted at No. 9 during the Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) pursuit of 197 runs against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Match 8 of the IPL 2025 season. This choice left many fans and cricket enthusiasts puzzled, as they questioned the rationale behind having a player of Dhoni's stature batting so low in the order when the match was slipping away. However, in an interview with the host broadcaster JioHotstar, Dhoni clarified his reasoning for maintaining this position in the batting order, indicating that this approach is unlikely to change in the near future.

Prior to the commencement of the 18th edition of the lucrative league, Dhoni participated in an interview where he expressed his intention from the previous year to provide Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja with more opportunities to bat higher in the order, thereby enhancing their chances for selection in the T20 World Cup. He emphasized that the players batting ahead of him were performing well and that the franchise was not suffering as a result.

In the match against RCB, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravindra Ashwin all batted before Dhoni. He only entered the field after Ashwin was dismissed. Ultimately, the former CSK captain finished the innings unbeaten, scoring 30 runs off 16 balls, which included two sixes in the final over bowled by Krunal Pandya.

In CSK's opening match of the IPL 2025 season, Dhoni also batted at No. 8 when the outcome was already secure, as the team needed just four runs to win.

"There was an issue with my knee, but it was more manageable than anything else last year. Additionally, there was a selection process for the T20 World Cup. If you examine our team, Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) and Shivam Dube were among the contenders, so it was important to give them opportunities. I am not vying for that position," Dhoni stated.

"They were fulfilling their roles effectively. Promoting players does not harm the franchise, you know. If everyone is executing their responsibilities and alleviating some pressure from me, then why not," he concluded.

'Decision is doing everyone good'

Dhoni, who continues to display remarkable agility behind the stumps, mentioned that his perspective would have shifted if the batsmen preceding him were failing to score the necessary runs. Nevertheless, he adheres to the principle, "Why fix something that isn't broken?"

"That was the rationale behind it. If their batting performance had been subpar or if they were not achieving the required runs, then my approach would have been different," Dhoni explained.

"However, if a decision is benefiting everyone, then why change it?" he added.

In the match between CSK and RCB, the latter secured a victory in Chepauk after a 17-year hiatus. Led by Rajat Patidar, RCB won by 50 runs, successfully defending a total of 196. Josh Hazlewood claimed three wickets, while Yash Dayal and Liam Livingstone each took two wickets.

Read Also: CSK Coach Stephen Fleming Loses Composure After First Home Defeat to RCB Since 2008: "We'll See Who Claims IPL Victory in the End"

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