Chennai
Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he was experimenting with the
batting lineup in the early phases of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by letting explosive players
like Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran bat higher up the order.

Unshackled
by international responsibilities and with the absence of opener Suresh Raina, Dhoni
was expected to promote himself up the batting order and lead the CSK’s bid for a fourth title.

Also Read: What made ‘Captain Cool’ MS Dhoni lose his temper against Rajasthan Royals?

However the CSK captain explained his idea of
experimenting early in tournament by testing Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran’s
hard hitting up the order. He also mentioned the way he has been out of
practice for a while and would want to let things take the natural
course. 

Chennai Super Kings came out to the pitch needing 217 runs to win their second game in IPL-13.

After a steady start by the openers Murali Vijay and Shane Watson, who managed 53 in the first six overs, Rahul Tewatia and Shreyas Gopal in no time reduced the team to four wickets down.

However, when the Yellow army desperately needed their ‘Thala’ to step up and walk in after the required run rate was cruising over 12 runs per over, MS Dhoni pushed himself down the order and came only after Kedar Jadhav’s wicket.

Sam Curran, Kedar Jadhav and Ruturaj Gaikwad who according to every possible factor had to come only after MS Dhoni was done playing his part, were pushed to neutralize the run rate.

Also Read: 27 runs, 2 balls: Relive the drama from the Rajasthan Royals’ clash with Chennai Super Kings

However, Faf Du Plessis held his end throughout the domino like CSK innings found regular boundaries only when it was too late. The South African’s 72 run inning off 36 balls ended when he mismanaged Jofra Archer’s bouncer for Samson to take another catch. 

By the time Dhoni took on the field, got rid of his helmet and started nudging the ball here and there, the required run rate had already crossed 17 rpo. He managed three sixes in his 17 ball stay at the crease. Dhoni scored 28 runs off 16 balls. 

Also Read: CSK Vs RR Highlights: Samson, Archer guide Rajasthan to 16-run win

A very practical cricket saying is “let your best batsman play most number of balls”, but Dhoni being Dhoni defied the sermon and eventually came down the order. The former Indian skipper did manage not batting in the Mumbai Indians game but this game screams at the top of its voice,“ Is MS Dhoni underestimating himself?”