“MS Dhoni entertained, who cares if CSK wins or loses”: Virender Sehwag’s remark surprises everyone

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon MS Dhoni turned back the clock with another fun cameo in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season on Friday. The former CSK captain hit an unbeaten 26 off just 11 balls, albeit in a losing cause against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With CSK chasing 232, Dhoni came in at No. 8 and made a valiant effort with the bat but his team lost the match by 35 runs.

While there has been a debate surrounding Dhoni’s batting position, former Indian batsman Virender Sehwag insisted that the 42-year-old should bat higher up the order.

Analyzing the match, Sehwag said the debate around his number should end but suggested that others need to bat like him to achieve big goals.

“We should end the debate around MS Dhoni’s batting position. He knows what he wants to do. It’s his desire. But if you want to win the match, the form he is in and the strike rate at which he is batting …the other batsmen need to play at a similar level. Today it looked like Mitchell and Ali wouldn’t be able to match Sudharsan and Gill. Someone needs to score a hundred. Or Jadeja and Dube had to score 20-ball fifties to get close to the target,” said Sehwag in Cricbuzz.

“I don’t want to get into the debate. Wherever he bats, it’s fine. He played well and entertained the crowd, who cares if they win or lose? He entertained the crowd, that’s it,” he added.

After the match, CSK coach Stephen Fleming Dhoni’s fitness said that the team management is very cautious about the former captain’s fitness and knows what he can give to the team.

“Like just hitting sixes and fours, which he did really well. And keep some of the best in the competition, if not the best in the competition. at number 9. There is a timing aspect but we are very cautious about what he can give us and we will maximize that,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Fleming as saying.

He also highlighted that CSK do not want to put too much pressure on Dhoni as they might lose him due to injury. The head coach said the wicketkeeper-batsman is “fine”.

“But we don’t want to maximize it where we lost it. So it’s a delicate balance, but believe me, his best interest is with us, and his best interest is [is] in performing well for us is still very high. To put the nation at ease, he is fine,” he added.

(With ANI inputs)