I Am Not Happy With MS Dhoni's Batting Position: Ajay Jadeja

MS Dhoni’s decision to demote himself in the batting-order in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League has been met with stinging criticism from the cricketing folklore.

After having started the tournament with a win over defending champions Mumbai Indians, CSK have suffered back-to-back defeats against Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals, and in both matches, the approach to their run-chases have been baffling. While the openers have eaten up too many balls in the powerplay, matters have been made worse with MS Dhoni not taking the run-chase by the scruff of its neck by coming in to bat higher up the order.

In the game against Rajasthan Royals, Dhoni raised eyebrows when he came to the middle at the No.7 spot, and then in the last match against DC, the former Indian captain once again lower down in the order. In both the matches, MS Dhoni came to bat with a Mount Everest of runs to climb.

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‘No war is won while fighting from behind’- Ajay Jadeja on MS Dhoni slotting himself down the order

Ajay Jadeja, former Indian batsman, like others, is not happy MS Dhoni’s batting position. The former swashbuckling batsman said that wars are not won from behind and that MSD should come higher up the order to take control of the innings.

”I would again say the same thing. I am not happy with MS Dhoni’s batting position. No war is won while fighting from behind. There’s a saying in the Army that a war concludes when the General steps out. In cricket, I believe that the one who fights from the front has a better chance of winning the battle. If you have soldiers who can win the battle for you and you can only work towards strategizing the war, that’s a different scenario. But doesn’t look like the case here,” Ajay Jadeja told CricBuzz.

Ajay Jadeja is also worried about the fact that Dhoni’s current form with the bat could be a taint on his legacy and that kids who have started watching the game today, will remember the Dhoni that they are currently seeing on the screen, which is looking like a pale shadow of his former self.

“Dhoni has retired from Indian cricket team duty but is still leading CSK. Those kids who have started watching cricket now, would remember the Dhoni they are seeing on the screens, contrary to the great cricketer they were being told about before which is the sad part,” Jadeja added.

MS Dhoni and CSK are currently in the midst of a six-day break, post which they will lock horns with SRH to revive their campaign.