IPL 2021: MS Dhoni Will Be A Big Part Of It Going Forward - Stephen Fleming Speaks On Skipper's Position In CSK's Deep Batting Order

Stephen Fleming, Chennai Super Kings head coach, opens up about MS Dhoni’s role and batting position in the line-up going forward in the IPL 2021.

The skipper has batted twice in the season so far, both at number 7 – he had a short 2-ball stay against Delhi Capitals registering a duck; against Rajasthan Royals on Monday, MS Dhoni didn’t look in his touch and played 17 balls for 18 runs as CSK end up with a par total. Hence, the questions have been raised on whether MS Dhoni should continue batting at number 7.

Stephen Fleming reckons they are still to sort out the skipper’s right slot in the CSK batting line-up which runs deep and has immense batting depth as the likes of Dwayne Bravo, who scored 20* off 8, comes to bat at number 9, with Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar to follow.

“A very difficult one of our challenges is managing the order because we have so many resources. But there will be opportunities where we would probably look to throw him (MS Dhoni) up as with (Ravindra) Jadeja and others and that’s rather the challenges of our strategy,” Stephen Fleming said in the press conference.

“But at the moment we are just trying to be a solid order and look for simple parts of the game and what the conditions provide us in terms of how we can attack. We know we have got a lot of batting and the way we are playing is really encouraging. We haven’t put together a perfect innings by any means but the skipper will be a big part of it going forward,” he added.

MS Dhoni’s form is restoring, he’s going to get better: Stephen Fleming

There were always doubts over MS Dhoni’s waning prowess with the bat coming into the season. The Ranchi-born didn’t play any professional-level cricket between IPL 2021 and IPL 2020; he didn’t feature for Jharkhand in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where several CSK players such as Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu batted to regain their touch and get in rhythm before the IPL.

However, the head coach feels that the skipper is getting back to form and will need to spend some time in the middle to start smashing the balls again.

“Yes, his form is restoring, every time he gets some balls in the middle he’s going to get better and better,” Fleming believed.

With two wins in three games, CSK sits at the second position on the points table; they will take on Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday.

Also Read: IPL 2021: The First Six Balls I Played Could Have Cost Us In Another Game – MS Dhoni On His Slow Start vs RR