MS Dhoni's No. 9 Decision Exposed, Harbhajan, Irfan Pathan Red-Faced

Photo : AP

In a surprising turn of events during the IPL 2024 clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Punjab Kings, cricket fans witnessed the legendary MS Dhoni taking the field at an unexpected No. 9 spot. This move raised eyebrows, especially considering Dhoni's usual position in the batting order.

Former India cricketers Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh were among those who expressed their bewilderment at Dhoni's placement, suggesting that a player of his caliber should not be relegated to such a low batting position. However, recent revelations shed light on the rationale behind Dhoni's unusual batting slot.

According to a report by the Times of India, Dhoni is currently nursing a muscle tear in his leg, which hampers his ability to sustain prolonged running on the field. Consequently, the veteran cricketer is cautious about appearing too early in the batting order for CSK, as running between the wickets poses a challenge for him.

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This injury concern was further underscored by a recent incident where Dhoni was criticized for sending back non-striker Daryl Mitchell instead of attempting a clear double. Subsequently, Dhoni himself fell victim to a run-out, a rare occurrence for the iconic cricketer.

Sources close to the CSK camp emphasized the sacrifices Dhoni is making for the team amidst injury woes, noting that the criticism directed towards him fails to acknowledge his dedication to the team's cause.

The report also highlighted that had Devon Conway, the team's secondary wicket-keeper batsman, been available, Dhoni might have been afforded some rest from a few matches. Nevertheless, Dhoni continues to persevere, reportedly taking medication before taking the field and minimizing his running to mitigate the risk of exacerbating the injury.

This season, CSK has been grappling with multiple injury setbacks, with Conway already ruled out and Matheesha Pathirana returning home due to injury. Additionally, star Indian pacer Deepak Chahar's return remains uncertain due to a leg injury, further exacerbating CSK's injury woes for the campaign.