MS Dhoni can’t be leading CSK while batting at No.7: Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer, reckons that MS Dhoni shouldn’t be leading the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) while batting at number seven. In the Super Kings’ first game against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the 39-year-old Dhoni bagged a duck after fast bowler Avesh Khan rattled his woodwork.
Gambhir, who led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, said that a skipper “should lead from the front” and should be batting higher up the order.
“We keep mentioning this thing that a leader needs to lead from the front. You can’t be leading, when you’re batting at No.7,” Gambhir was quoted as saying on Star Sports show Cricket Live.
I think he needs to bat at number four or five: Gautam Gambhir
Gambhir, who last played in the 2018 IPL, said that Dhoni should be batting in the middle-order and give himself some time before hitting the bowlers.
“MS Dhoni should be batting higher, that’s what matters because ultimately people should start leading from the front. Yes, there are issues in their bowling lineup,” he stated.
“Plus, he is not the MS Dhoni, which he used to be probably four or five years back, where he could just come in and start taking on the bowlers from the word go. For me, I think he needs to bat at number four/ five. Nothing below that,” Gambhir added.
Dhoni hasn’t had the best of times recently as far his IPL career is concerned. In 2020, CSK failed to make the playoffs for the first time in the history of the championship. Dhoni’s form with the bat in hand was also questioned.
In their first game of IPL 2021, CSK were defeated black and blue by the Capitals, led by Rishabh Pant, in Mumbai. Their bowlers came under the cosh and leaked runs as Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan blazed away.
CSK are next scheduled to lock horns with the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Friday, April 16 in Mumbai itself. Dhoni and Co are currently placed at the bottom of the points table with a net run rate of -0.779.
