IPL 2021: MS Dhoni Explains Why He Promoted Shardul Thakur To No. 4 In Qualifier 1 vs DC

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni revealed that the management just wanted to tinker with its batting order and therefore decided to send bowling all-rounder, Shardul Thakur, up the order at No.4.

Unfortunately for them, it didn’t work out the way they planned. Thakur was dismissed for a duck by Tom Curran while trying to smack his first ball for a six over long-on. It was a simple catch in the deep for Delhi Capitals’ Shreyas Iyer.

“We haven’t really experimented with our batting order. Thinking about Thakur’s promotion was if he clicks, he’ll make it easier for us. Didn’t happen that way. With the way he has been batting recently or even Deepak [Chahar], both can contribute,” Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

“With Shardul or Deepak, they can look to get a boundary off the first ball” – MS Dhoni

The 40-year-old Dhoni further assessed that a specialist batsman has the pressure of getting runs. But when it comes to pinch-hitters like Shardul Thakur or Deepak Chahar, boundaries can be scored right from ball one which reduces the pressure on the batsman at the other end.

“When a batsman goes in, he will think twice before hitting the first ball for a boundary, but if a Shardul or a Deepak goes in, they can look to get a boundary from the first ball. And even they get one or two hits away, it could be a big impact because the run difference is only 15-20 runs,” Dhoni further said.

CSK defeated DC by 4 wickets with two balls to spare in Dubai on Sunday. With the win, they now enter the IPL final for the 9th time. As for DC, they have a painful three-day break to reassess their plans and regroup to face the winner of RCB vs KKR.

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