CSK coaches' guts called out for MS Dhoni's strange batting position

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are facing intense criticism after their crushing 50-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their IPL 2025 match at Chepauk, and former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has not held back in expressing his outrage on a live show.

Manoj Tiwary slammed the Chennai Super Kings coaching staff for not having the courage to push MS Dhoni up the batting order when his presence was desperately needed during the tough 197-run chase against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Manoj Tiwary calls out CSK’s gutless move to hold back MS Dhoni during the chase against RCB

Many former cricketers and fans were left fuming as MS Dhoni was shockingly held back to bat at number 9, despite CSK collapsing during their unsuccessful chase against the RCB on Friday.

Meanwhile, Tiwary questioned the logic behind the decision, pointing out that Dhoni's ability to score quick runs could have changed the outcome of the IPL 2025 game in Chennai.

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The former CSK batter has sarcastically taken a dig at the team management by simply saying that they didn’t have the guts to challenge Dhoni's decision and make the bold call to promote him in the batting order.

Tiwary highlighted how Dhoni’s experience and calm presence could have steadied the chase when the top order crumbled under pressure.

Once he has decided, that's it: Majoj Tiwary targets MS Dhoni

Majoj Tiwary was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz, “It's beyond my understanding how a batter like MS Dhoni, who can stay unbeaten after scoring 30 off 16 balls, why not move up the order? You are playing to win, right? That coaching staff (CSK, they do not have the guts to tell MS Dhoni to move up the order. Once he has decided, that's it.”

On the same show, Virender Sehwag said, “This is something he and his team have decided. He will only play a certain number of balls. He always comes to bat during the 17th or 18th over; he came at the same situation... I am not surprised. It's not like if he had come on to bat earlier, anything about this match would have changed because of the way RCB was playing.”

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The story of CSK's unsuccessful chase against the RCB

Chasing a 197-run target at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, CSK had a disastrous start as they lost three wickets inside the powerplay, leaving the chase in tatters.

As the required run rate kept climbing, CSK made a surprising decision to send Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the legendary finisher against the RCB.

This baffling move sparked outrage among fans as they couldn't understand why the former CSK captain was being held back when the game was slipping away.

When Dhoni finally came out to bat in the 16th over, it was already too late. Despite a spirited knock of 30 off 16 balls, including two powerful sixes in the final over against Krunal Pandya, the damage was already done.

CSK could only muster 146/8 in their 20 overs, falling 50 runs short of the target and gifting RCB their first win at Chepauk since the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008.

The defeat has raised serious questions about CSK's strategic decisions and the role of the coaching staff in guiding the team through crucial moments during their IPL 2025 clash against the RCB.