Harbhajan Singh talks about MS Dhoni and all that is wrong with CSK in IPL 2025

Harbhajan Singh highlights that CSK’s muddled approach with Dhoni in the current IPL season is hampering the franchise.

MS Dhoni, 43, has been batting lower down the order, which hasn’t benefited Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Dhoni came to bat at No. 9. Though he remained unbeaten on 30 off 16 balls, CSK still lost the match against RCB by 50 runs. Two days later, he came two slots high against Rajasthan Royals (RR) but was dismissed for 16.

Harbhajan Singh speaks about Dhoni and CSK.

Harbhajan reckoned that CSK’s muddled approach with Dhoni is hampering the franchise. He said on his YouTube channel, “I would like to present some stats. Dhoni sahab bahut bade khiladi hain, par jab who aaye hain, match khatam ho chuka tha (Dhoni has been a great player, but by the time he came out to bat, the match was all but over). Whenever Dhoni has chased since IPL 2023 in winning causes, he has scored just 3 runs in 9 balls, without a single boundary or six. But in losing causes, Dhoni has scored 166 runs in 84 balls with 13 fours and 13 sixes. This means that Dhoni averages just 8 in matches CSK have won, while in the games lost, his average is 49. Who wants to watch matches lost? And this, I think, is a major issue CSK needs to fix.”

Harbhajan Singh highlights more issues of CSK.

He added, “The team management needs to look at this differently. Send Dhoni up and leave him alone. Tell him to smash because if he scores runs, then that would matter. Otherwise, there isn’t much to nitpick. He still smashes them, but these stats aren’t materialising.” He also pointed out, “Gaikwad has pushed himself down. He is such a good opener, a successful opener. CSK have always had very good openers – be it Matthew Hayden or, Brendon McCullum, or Devon Conway. Which reminds me he is in the squad too but he’s not playing. I can’t figure out how they’re making this team. They have preferred Craig Overton over Conway when they have such a good stock of Indian bowlers.”

Harbhajan concluded, “Make these guys play higher and keep Rachin, Ravindra Jadeja. Then, at least, their batting would look strong. Right now, it’s like when Shivam Dube gets out, it feels as if it’s all over. They have no batter who at will can hit fours and sixes. Ruturaj played well, but he lacked intent. Even Jadeja’s innings were slow. He, too, couldn’t strike those big shots.”