'He'll Stay Where he is': Michael Clarke Doesn't Think MS Dhoni Will Bat in the Top-six for CSK

Should MS Dhoni bat higher in the batting order for Chennai Super Kings?

The calls are growing after the legendary captain’s flamboyant knock against Delhi Capitals in Vizag on Sunday night. Dhoni walked in to bat at no.8 and blazed away to an unbeaten 37 off just 16 deliveries but even it proved insufficient to prevent CSK falling to their first defeat of IPL 2024.

Australia fast bowling legend Brett Lee has suggested CSK to promote Dhoni in the batting order as has Tom Moody who felt had the wicketkeeper-batter been sent ahead of Ravindra Jadeja and Sameer Rizvi, the match contest could have ended differently.

However, former Australia captain Michal Clarke feels that Dhoni won’t change his batting spot unless the game is on the line.

“I don’t think he will. I think he’ll stay where he is. I think every MS Dhoni fan wants to see him as high up the order as possible. We’ve all said throughout his career, he should open the batting,” Clarke told Star Sports.

“But look, he’s at a stage of his career where he’s down from the captaincy. I don’t think he’ll come up the order. I think if there’s a game on the line and he needs to go up the order because it’s what’s best for the team, I’m sure he will,” he added.

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Dhoni struck four fours and three sixes during what was his first innings with the bat in IPL 2024.

“…just because he’s hitting the ball so well, I don’t think you’ll see him batting in the top five or top six. I think he’s a genius at the dance. He’s probably the best finisher I’ve ever seen. So, I think they’ll continue to utilize him in that role,” Clarke said.

However, Steve Smith feels that Dhoni has been middling the ball well and should be batting higher up.

“Let’s get him up the order. I think he did not miss the middle of the bat tonight. That was just incredible to witness. I think Jadeja, throughout the other end, was actually struggling to find the middle. They bowled really well to him but MS got there on strike. Obviously, in his first ball to the boundary and then from there, he just barely missed the middle of the bat. It was great to watch and I think the fans want to see him getting up the order and keep doing it more often,” Smith said.