MS Dhoni didn’t come out to bat despite Chennai Super Kings (CSK) needing lots of big hits during their 32-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the ongoing IPL 2023 match left former Australian pacer Shaun Tait flabbergasted.
RR posted 202/5 on the board after Sanju Samson chose to bat first with a major contribution coming from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made 77, and then Dhruv Jurel (34) and Devdutt Padikkal (27*) finished well for the team.
In reply, CSK only managed 170/6 in 20 overs with Shivam Dube making 52 and Ruturaj Gaikwad making 47. For RR, Adam Zampa took 3/22, while R Ashwin took two wickets, as RR won by 32 runs.
The Super Kings failed to chase down a 203-run target at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur, thanks to a disciplined bowling effort from the home side; Adam Zampa was the pick of the bowlers as he registered impressive figures of 3/22 in four overs.
Despite Ruturaj and Dube’s efforts, CSK batters were unable to forge strong partnerships and were left requiring 79 from 31 deliveries. Many expected Ravindra Jadeja to join Shivam Dube to join in the middle and while he did, the left-handed batter failed to make a desirable effect.
That is where many think MS Dhoni should’ve come out to bat. And Shaun Tait was one of those wanting the CSK captain to take responsibility.
“Watching MS (Dhoni) sit on the boundaries when they need sixes… I was like, ‘can someone get out?’” Tait said following the game on ESPNCricinfo.
There’s This Fear Factor When MS Is Batting: Deep Dasgupta
Fellow expert Deep Das Gupta also echoed Tait’s sentiments, stating that Dhoni’s presence commands fear among the bowlers.
“There’s this fear factor when MS is batting. No matter whether he’s (on) 40 or 50, no matter how good a bowler you are, you’d still be thinking, ‘it’s MS who’s batting there’,” the former Indian cricketer said.
So far, MS Dhoni has batted 4 times in the IPL 2023 and scored 61 runs, and has been dismissed only once. Moreover, Dhoni’s strike rate has been an incredible 196.77.