Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming has admitted that Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s knee issues prevent him from sustaining long batting innings, which is why he prefers to bat lower in the order. This revelation follows CSK’s narrow six-run loss to Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday, where Dhoni came in at No. 7 and scored 16 off 11 balls.
The 43-year-old former skipper had already faced criticism for batting at No. 9 during CSK’s 50-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His late arrival in the batting order has sparked debate among fans and analysts, but Fleming clarified that Dhoni’s batting position is determined by his fitness and match conditions.
Fleming explained that Dhoni assesses his body before deciding when to bat. “MS judges it himself. His knees aren’t what they used to be. He moves well, but he can’t bat 10 overs running full stick. He gauges what he can contribute on the day,” Fleming stated in the post-match press conference.
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He emphasized that Dhoni remains a key figure in the team and is mindful of balancing his role. “From around the 13th or 14th over, he starts looking for an entry point. His leadership and wicketkeeping are too valuable for us to push him in too early,” the CSK coach added.
Fleming pointed out that the real difference in the match came from the powerplay overs. Rajasthan Royals got off to a flying start, scoring 79/1 in the first six overs, whereas CSK managed only 42/1. “That’s where the match slipped away from us. We were also sloppy in the field, while Rajasthan’s fielding was outstanding,” he admitted.
Highlighting key moments, Fleming mentioned Riyan Parag’s brilliant catch and Wanindu Hasaranga’s bold decision to toss the ball up to dismiss Ruturaj Gaikwad. “That was a turning point. Hasaranga took a risk, but it paid off,” he said.
Nitish Rana’s blistering 81 off 36 balls was instrumental in RR’s victory, helping them post 182/9 before restricting CSK to 176/6. Promoted to No. 3, Rana revealed his change in strategy. “I focused on using the pace of the wicket, and it worked,” he said.
For Riyan Parag, this was his first win as RR’s captain. Rana credited his leadership, saying, “Captaincy is often judged by results, but what matters is winning small battles in a T20 game. Riyan stayed calm, and the atmosphere in our dressing room was relaxed, thanks to Sanju (Samson) and Rahul sir.”
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