'Didn't make sense at all': MS Dhoni's move to come at No. 9 during CSK vs RCB clash baffles former cricketers

Former cricketers slam MS Dhoni for coming at no. 9 to bat.

IPL 2025, CSK vs RCB: In addition to losing by 50 runs to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a high-stakes match at Chepauk, the Chennai Super Kings baffled fans and pundits with their batting choice of MS Dhoni at No. 9 when the game was already all but lost.

CSK had a terrible start, losing Ruturaj Gaikwad for a duck and falling to 8/2 in two overs while chasing a mammoth 197. Sam Curran and Rachin Ravindra (41) tried to steady the innings, but their inability to keep up with the increasing required run rate only made CSK's problems worse.

The fact that Dhoni was still padded up in the dugout, however, raised eyebrows as wickets fell.

CSK's aspirations were severely dashed after Ravindra and Shivam Dube were removed by Yash Dayal's double strikes in the thirteenth over.

However, Ravichandran Ashwin was sent forward despite a necessary pace of more than 16 runs per over, replacing Dhoni.

Dhoni didn't come out to bat until the 18th over, when the game was all but lost.

Even though he hit 30 runs off 16 balls, including three fours and two sixes, it felt more like a statistically significant innings than a memorable one.

Fans and former cricket players questioned CSK's reasoning on social media. Dhoni's experience and finishing ability may have at least given the five-time winners a shot if he had been promoted before Ashwin and the others.

The decision was criticized by former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who wrote, “I will never be in favour of Dhoni batting at number 9. Not ideal for team.”

I will never be in favour of Dhoni batting at number 9. Not ideal for team.

Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 28, 2025

The move was also criticized by Robin Uthappa, who won an IPL championship with CSK under Dhoni’s captaincy.

Uthappa posted, “Important win for RCB. A win at the fortress in Chepauk will be a huge boost in their campaign this year. Dhoni coming at number 9 dint make sense at all. Him coming earlier could have helped CSK’s NRR in their campaign this year.”

Important win for RCB. A win at the fortress in Chepauk will be a huge boost in their campaign this year. Dhoni coming at number 9 dint make sense at all. Him coming earlier could have helped CSKs NRR in their campaign this year. Robbie Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) March 28, 2025

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra posted: “CSK fans really love the sight of Dhoni walking into the middle and smashing sixes. But CSK fans must also want their team to win. And with the kind of hitting form that Dhoni has shown off-late, it’s only logical to expect him to give himself enough time to win games for CSK. Ashwin ahead of Dhoni vs RCB didn’t make sense.”

CSK fans really love the sight of Dhoni walking into the middle and smashing sixes.But CSK fans must also want their team to win. And with the kind of hitting form that Dhoni has shown off-late, its only logical to expect him to give himself enough time to win games for CSK. Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 28, 2025

In the match's last over, when it was already mathematically impossible for CSK to win, Dhoni hit two consecutive sixes against Krunal Pandya.

Although it was a painful blow to lose at home to RCB for the first time since 2008, the question of Dhoni's batting position may bother fans more than the actual loss.