Wasim Jaffer blasts MS Dhoni, hints CSK's DNA has changed to a Coward Team
Published - 06 Apr 2025, 01:51 PM | Updated - 06 Apr 2025, 11:35 PM
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Former India opener Wasim Jaffer is critical of the batting approach of Chennai Super Kings by claiming that the team isn't even trying to win after they lose some early wickets. Jaffer is highly surprised by this approach and labelled it as a major concern for them.
Wasim Jaffer also pointed out the constant chopping and changing in the team's Playing XI and termed it unusual for a team that is known for its stability. It has been hugely surprising to see CSK making changes in every game.
Over the years, they have been known to trust their players by giving them full chances, but this season has been different. They have been trying too much with their playing combination, which hasn't allowed the team to settle at all.
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Wasim Jaffer slams CSK's team management
While speaking on ESPNCricinfo's Time Out, Wasim Jaffer opened up on CSK's constant batting failures and was surprised at the team management making so many changes in every game. Jaffer feels that it is the opposite of the CSK that everyone is used to seeing and questions the team's stability.
"They're losing too many wickets upfront. Whether it would be form or poor shot selection, whether it would be selection alone, and maybe throwing around too many players and those players might be feeling like, 'I don't know if I'm in or out,' and that could be something we're not used to when looking at a Chennai team," Jaffer said.
"Usually, they're stable, a good decision-making team and franchise. The team is like they're a bit rattled at the moment," the former India batter added.
CSK is a team that hardly makes any major changes and likes to go with the same combination in every game, irrespective of the results. The stability had been their strength over the years, but the team management has been making changes in every game this season.
Wasim Jaffer blasts CSK's batting approach
Further speaking in the same video, Wasim Jaffer questioned the team's batting approach and feels that they don't even try to win once they lose early wickets. Jaffer expressed his surprise at this approach, which has happened twice in two matches.
"If their top order doesn't fire and (Shivam) Dube gets out, it looks like they shut shop very quickly. They feel really, really behind the game, and it doesn't even look like they're trying," Wasim Jaffer mentioned.
"That approach has been the most surprising to me; it's twice in two games, where they shut shop too early. That's a major concern for CSK," he added.
CSK's lower-order batting has come under immense scrutiny for their intent in the last two matches. The batters, especially MS Dhoni, haven't been able to take their team past the finish line. However, they didn't even try to win the game, which was entirely shocking.
Lack of intent against Delhi Capitals
In the match played against Delhi Capitals at Chepauk, CSK were reduced to 74-5 in 10.4 overs, and MS Dhoni joined Vijay Shankar at the crease. Both the batters remained unbeaten till the last ball of the match, but Chennai still lost the match by 25 runs.
There was hardly any intent from both Shankar and Dhoni to win the game for their team. Both the batters didn't look like taking the attack to the opposition as they struggled to time the ball.
Shankar finished unbeaten on 69 off 54 balls with 5 fours and 1 six. On the other hand, Dhoni looked like a shadow of his old self as he finished not out on 30 off 26 balls with a solitary four and a six to his name.
