IPL 2021: MS Dhoni Will Need To Take More Responsibility: Ian Bishop

Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop opined that MS Dhoni has to shoulder more responsibility with the bat during the second half of the season as the Chennai Super Kings aim for their fourth IPL title.

MS Dhoni has been underwhelming with the bat since last season. Earlier this year, in the India leg of IPL 2021, he managed only 37 runs at a strike rate of 123.33.

Despite CSK’s strong position on the points table, each game is of massive importance now. Hence, Bishop reckoned the CSK skipper has to level himself up in terms of his batting.

“It’s just the fast bowling that can be bolstered. I don’t know where they can go with the batting. Jadeja has been in good form. Moeen Ali brilliant as well and Gaikwad is outstanding. So Dhoni will need to take more responsibility if these guys cannot play,” Bishop told ESPNcricinfo.

Got to admire MS Dhoni for sending Jadeja and Curran ahead of him: Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar talked about CSK’s disappointing season last year – when they failed to qualify for the playoffs.

However, he observed during the latter stages of the season, and this year as well, CSK realised their shortcomings – in particular with MS Dhoni, who turned 40 a couple of months ago, promoting the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran ahead of him.

“Really the story of the last half of the IPL was CSK coming to terms with the ageing reality. Working accordingly they started leaving out the old players and began to use them smartly. Dhoni himself taking that call and you got to admire that man that on odd occasions he took that call of sending Jadeja and Curran ahead of him when they needed quick runs,” Manjrekar said.

CSK take on defending champions Mumbai Indians on Sunday in Dubai. The MS Dhoni-led side are sitting on the second spot in the points table with 5 wins and 2 losses.

Also Read: Brian Lara In ‘Shock’ After Virat Kohli Announced Stepping Away From T20I Captaincy