As CSK stumbles early in IPL 2025, Harbhajan Singh points to MS Dhoni’s diminishing impact with the bat, flawed team combinations, and calls for major tactical changes.
March 31, 2025: MS Dhoni may still be sharp behind the stumps, but his batting position and role in Chennai Super Kings’ line-up is coming under scrutiny — and now, Harbhajan Singh has added fuel to the fire.
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Following CSK’s back-to-back defeats in IPL 2025, the former India spinner didn’t hold back in his analysis, pointing out how the franchise’s strategy — especially involving Dhoni — is not only hurting the team but also risking the legendary cricketer’s legacy.
“Dhoni sahab bahut bade khiladi hain, par jab who aaye hain, match khatam ho chuka tha,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel, calling out CSK’s decision to bring Dhoni in too late during high-pressure chases.
The 43-year-old Dhoni came out to bat at No. 9 against RCB and scored a gritty 30 off 16*, but CSK lost by 50 runs. Against RR, he batted at No. 7 and managed 16 off 11 before falling in the final over of a failed chase.
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The Stats That Hurt
Harbhajan backed his point with numbers that could sting even Dhoni’s staunchest fans.
“In winning chases since IPL 2023, Dhoni has scored just 3 runs off 9 balls — no boundaries, no sixes. In losing causes, he has scored 166 runs off 84 balls, with 13 fours and 13 sixes.”
The contrast is glaring. According to Bhajji, the implication is clear: Dhoni is only performing when the match is already slipping away, and that might be doing more harm than good.
What CSK Should Do, According to Harbhajan
“Send Dhoni up the order and tell him to smash. Let him go out with intent and freedom — that’s when he’ll matter again.”
Harbhajan didn’t just stop at Dhoni. He questioned the entire team composition — including the puzzling omission of Devon Conway and the decision to push Ruturaj Gaikwad down the order.
“Gaikwad is a top-class opener. Why push him to the middle? And Conway, who was crucial to CSK’s success last season, isn’t even playing.”
He was especially critical of Jamie Overton’s inclusion, suggesting CSK has underutilized its strong Indian bowling lineup and failed to balance the team effectively.
“No One Can Finish Like Before”
Harbhajan emphasized the fragility of CSK’s batting lineup:
“When Shivam Dube gets out, it feels like the game’s over. There’s no batter right now who can confidently hit boundaries at will. Ruturaj and Jadeja batted well, but neither looked threatening in terms of intent.”
The Road Ahead
With two losses in three games, CSK sits in the bottom half of the table. As questions mount around leadership decisions, team combinations, and Dhoni’s role, fans and critics alike are hoping for a course correction — before it’s too late.
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