Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has said that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni should bat higher in the batting order and lead from the front.
The statement from the 2-time IPL-winning captain comes ahead of CSK’s second match of the IPL 2021 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Friday. Notably, Dhoni, who has won IPL thrice with CSK, came to bat at number 7 position and got out for a duck versus Delhi Capitals (DC) in the 2nd match of the season.
“MS Dhoni should be batting higher, that’s what matters because ultimately people should start leading from the front. 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. Yes, there are issues in their bowling line up. 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 said at Star Sports show ‘Cricket LIVE’.
MS Dhoni was criticised for coming lower down the order in the last season of the IPL as well. The talismanic captain failed to win matches for his team on several occasions and struggled with his strike rate. As a result, CSK failed to qualify for the play-offs for the first time in their IPL history.
CSK are currently at the bottom of the IPL 2021 points table.
