Indian T20 League 2023: 3 Reasons why MS Dhoni must bat higher up the order for Chennai

In the inaugural match of the Indian T20 League (ITL) 2023 on Friday, March 31, the MS Dhoni-led Chennai lost to the defending champion Gujarat by five wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Dhoni's batting position is one of the main topics of conversation leading up to their second game against the Lucknow franchise at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Monday, April 3. He needs to bat higher in the order in the ITL 2023, and we'll look at three reasons why in this article.

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1. MS Dhoni needs time to settle in

MS Dhoni (Source: Twitter)

Dhoni has waited a while to get comfortable before attempting his huge swings during the past several years. That held over his final several international seasons as well. His strike rates provide insight into his ITL career in recent seasons. He wants to give the team's younger players a better chance to produce so they bat down the order. It's a good notion, but Dhoni seems to find it difficult to step it up with so few deliveries left. In the most recent game, he did manage to play a great cameo, but that was more of an exception than the rule.

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2. Sending Shivam Dube ahead of MS Dhoni makes no sense

Dhoni (Source: Twitter)

Regardless of the batting order, Dhoni's position at No. 8 is absurd. His bat talent is essentially wasted in this situation. To be fair to Shivam Dube, the young player batting before Dhoni defies reason since he cannot develop an innings. Chennai should switch the roles of Dhoni and Dube in the team. The skipper of Chennai can get some runs by batting in the middle order and, if he is still alive, can attack the bowling late in the game.

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3. Chennai's middle order seems concerning

MS Dhoni, Chennai (Source: Twitter)

Dhoni should think about batting higher in the order because the middle order for Chennai doesn't appear to be very strong. If it weren't for Gaikwad's heroics, Chennai could have been embarrassed by Gujarat in Ahmedabad. Although Moeen Ali has made a few useful cameo appearances for the side over the past two to three seasons, his recent statistics have not been very outstanding. Ben Stokes, the star all-rounder for England, is fresh to the Chennai lineup. Despite his enormous notoriety, Stokes might need time to adapt to his new position as a specialist batter. There is concern that Ambati Rayudu is past the prime in his career. Ravindra Jadeja also has to reassert himself in the group.