In his last two IPL 2025 matches, MS Dhoni’s batting performances have been under scrutiny due to his late entries and the lack of impact on Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) overall game plan. Against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on 22nd March, Dhoni came in at No. 9, a surprisingly low position for someone of his caliber. Although he scored 30 off 16 balls, his late entry meant that he barely got a chance to influence the game as CSK crumbled to a 50-run loss. Against Rajasthan Royals on 24th March, Dhoni batted at No. 7 and scored 16 runs off 11 balls. CSK was chasing a modest total, but Dhoni’s late arrival and inability to accelerate against spin proved costly as CSK fell six runs short of victory.

​Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has recently made notable remarks about MS Dhoni, focusing on Dhoni's current role in the CSK lineup. Harbhajan expressed concerns regarding CSK's utilization of Dhoni in the batting order during the IPL 2025 season. He highlighted that Dhoni's late entries into the game often occur when the match's outcome is nearly decided, limiting his potential impact. Harbhajan suggested that the CSK management should consider promoting Dhoni up the batting order, allowing him more opportunities to influence the game's result.

Harbhajan backs Ruturaj Gaikwad to take up opening spot in CSK lineup

At the same time, Harbhajan Singh also spoke about Ruturaj Gaikwad’s current role in the team. Harbhajan expressed concern over CSK's decision to have Ruturaj Gaikwad, a proven opener, bat at number three to accommodate Rahul Tripathi at the top. He emphasized that CSK has historically benefited from strong opening partnerships featuring players like Matthew Hayden, Brendon McCullum, and Devon Conway.

Harbhajan questioned the rationale behind altering this successful strategy, especially when a capable opener like Conway remains on the bench. He suggested that the team management should reconsider their batting order to leverage Gaikwad's strengths as an opener.

Get real-time IPL scores, Orange Cap, Purple Cap, points table, expert match predictions, and expert fantasy tips exclusively on SportsTiger!