As the highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) prepares to kick off on March 28, with only the first 20 match schedules released due to state elections, former South African cricketer AB de Villiers has voiced his opinion on MS Dhoni’s batting position for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). De Villiers believes there’s no justification for the legendary Dhoni to bat lower in the order.
“It’s a complex situation, and it’s not as simple as it appears. Brands take years to establish, and CSK has built a legacy around Dhoni that resonates instantly with fans. When you think of CSK, Dhoni comes to mind. In recent years, his role has been crucial in maintaining that brand strength. Therefore, I don’t see him batting at eight or nine where he might not contribute significantly, as we saw last season,” he remarked.
De Villiers suggests that Dhoni should ideally bat at number six, with the flexibility to come in at four or five based on the game dynamics.
“We all know he can make a difference with the bat, but if he’s batting so low and not in a leadership role, it feels like he’s just filling a spot for the wrong reasons. There’s still a vital role for him, but he needs to bat higher, preferably at six or even at five or four when the situation calls for it,” he added.
Furthermore, De Villiers sees Sanju Samson as the ideal candidate to eventually take on Dhoni’s role within the team. He encourages the young cricketer to embrace the pressure of critical moments.
“It’s a delicate balance, but I believe Sanju Samson is the right choice to step up. Kudos to Dhoni for staying on and waiting for the right successor. If MS continues to play, I want him to challenge himself and be the one to tackle those high-stakes situations,” the 42-year-old former cricketer stated.
CSK is set to commence its IPL 2026 journey against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) on March 30 at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati.
IPL 2026 Matchup: Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals – Full Squads
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), MS Dhoni (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan, Urvil Patel, Anshul Kamboj, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Zak Foulkes, Shivam Dube, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Shreyas Gopal, Gurjapneet Singh, Akeal Hosein, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar.
Rajasthan Royals: Ravindra Jadeja, Sandeep Sharma, Adam Milne, Donovan Ferreira (WK), Jofra Archer, Shimron Hetmyer, Tushar Deshpande, Sam Curran, Nandre Burger, Riyan Parag (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Sen, Ravi Bishnoi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sushant Mishra, Yudhvir Singh, Shubham Dubey, Vignesh Puthur, Aman Rao, Kwena Maphaka, Yash Punja, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ravi Singh (WK), Brijesh Sharma.
(With PTI Inputs)