MS Dhoni Injured? To Sit Out Of IPL 2025? Stephen Fleming Drops Bombshell

Fans have been left wondering why MS Dhoni is batting lower down the order in the ongoing IPL 2025. After Chennai Super Kings fell short by just six runs against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati, the spotlight once again turned to MS Dhoni’s batting position.

Coming to bat at No. 7, Dhoni made 16 runs off 11 balls during the tense chase of 183, but many felt that the legendary cricketer should have come in earlier to anchor the innings against the Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2025 game, as they have now suffered back-to-back defeats.

Stephen Fleming reveals why MS Dhoni is batting lower in the IPL 2025

Now, the Chennai Super Kings head coach, Stephen Fleming, has broken his silence and addressed the burning question. Fleming made it clear that fans shouldn’t expect MS Dhoni to bat 9-10 overs and revealed that there’s a strategic decision behind him coming down the order, even when the CSK is under pressure in the tournament.

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In the game against Rajasthan Royals, MS Dhoni walked in earlier compared to the previous match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he came in as low as No. 9. Despite the slight change in his batting position, the decision to send the legendary wicketkeeper-batter at number seven still sparked debate among cricket experts and fans.

Stephen Fleming breaks silence on CSK’s strategy

Stephen Fleming said at the post-match presentation, “Yeah, it’s a time thing. MS judges it. His body is… his knees aren’t what they used to be. And he’s moving okay, but there’s still an attrition aspect to it. He can’t bat ten overs running full-stick. So, he will gauge on the day what he can give us.”

Fleming explained that the team management carefully assesses the situation before deciding on the batting order. The head coach further noted that Dhoni is being used as a finisher rather than an anchor, allowing younger players to take up responsibility earlier in the innings.

The coach admitted that this approach may seem risky to fans who are used to seeing Dhoni guide the chase from the middle overs, but it’s the best way to utilize Dhoni’s power-hitting at the death.

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He’s looking to go, depending on who’s in: Stephen Fleming on MS Dhoni

He signed off by saying, “If the game’s in the balance like today, he will go a little bit earlier, and he backs other players when other opportunities are up. So, he’s balancing that. I said it last year [as well]; he’s too valuable to us—leadership and wicket-keeping—to throw him in nine or ten overs. He has actually never done that. So, look, from around 13-14 overs, he’s looking to go depending on who’s in.”

After losing back-to-back games, the Chennai Super Kings slipped to the seventh spot in the IPL 2025 points table with only two points from three games. CSK will next face Delhi Capitals in the tournament on April 5 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.