MS Dhoni not good enough for batting up the order in IPL 2024? Michael Clarke delivers bold verdict

Former Australia batsman and captain Michael Clarke believes that 5-time IPL winning captain with Chennai Super Kings, MS Dhoni, has no chance of coming higher in the CSK batting order.

Clarke’s comments came after Dhoni smacked a quickfire 37 up on his first appearance with the bat in IPL 2024 after a wait of 307 days with his previous outing with the bat coming during the 2023 final in Ahmedabad. Thala was pretty close to finishing off the match in CSK’s favor but Delhi Capitals eventually claimed their first victory by 21 runs.

The entire crowd at the ACA-VDCA stadium in Vishakhapatnam rose at its feet and turned on their cameras with flashlights on when MS Dhoni was approaching towards the crease. Excitement and sheer joy spread all across the venue as well as the country when Dhoni started off with his lethal onslaught. Throughout the 16 balls he played last night, Thala maintained a strike rate of 231.25, smacking 4 fours and 3 sixes on the way.

MS Dhoni remained unbeaten at 37 and he could have taken CSK towards the victory had he promoted himself up in the order. Mostly, his fans are asking him to appear higher up the order but that seems like a difficult task given the age he is in and it also depends upon how much further he can push himself in those situations. Plus the type of a player he has always been in his life, it is unlikely for him to move someone else below the order.

Michael Clarke reveals the only time MS Dhoni will consider moving up

While speaking to Star Sports after CSK endured their first loss of the season, Michael Clarke was asked to speak about MS Dhoni’s chances of appearing high in the order. Therein, Clarke stated that he is at a very different level of his career and that he doesn’t think Dhoni will come up in the order at any cost.

However, Clarke did reveal that one time when Dhoni might possibly appear higher and that will only happen when CSK are stuck in a challenging position and they need Thala to pull them out of the situation.

“I don’t think he will. I think he’ll stay where he is. I think every MS Dhoni fan wants to see him as high up the order as possible. We’ve all said throughout his career, he should open the batting,” Michael Clarke told Star Sports.

“But look, he’s at a stage of his career where he’s down from the captaincy. I don’t think he’ll come up the order. I think if there’s a game on the line and needs to go up the order because it’s what best for the team, I’m sure he will,” Clarke concluded.

Clarke hails MS Dhoni as the best finisher

Michael Clarke further explained that just because MS Dhoni is smacking the ball as powerfully as he used to back in the day, doesn’t mean he will appear at 5 or 6. The 2015 World Cup-winning captain hailed him as the best finisher he has ever seen and believes CSK will use him in that role more often.

“Just because he’s hitting the ball so well, I don’t think you’ll see him batting in the top 5 or top 6. I think he’s a genius at the dance. He’s probably the best finisher I’ve ever seen. So, I think they’ll continue to utilize him in that role,” Clarke concluded.