Dhoni Doesn’t Bat Before 17th Over: Aakash on CSK’s Challenges
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has been one of the most successful teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), having won the title three times. However, ahead of IPL 2025, former India batter Aakash Chopra has opined that the team faces a significant challenge due to their lack of powerful strikers.
Speaking to a leading sports portal, Chopra highlighted the team’s batting woes, particularly the fact that MS Dhoni, the team’s captain, rarely bats before the 17th over. “You have a legit finisher in the form of Shivam Dube, and you have Dhoni, but Dhoni doesn’t come to bat before the 17th over,” Chopra said.
Dhoni, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest finishers in the history of the game, has been CSK’s go-to man in the death overs. However, his tendency to bat late has made it challenging for the team to build a strong foundation in the innings. Chopra believes that this is a major concern for the team, especially in the fast-paced format of T20 cricket.
“T20 games require power, and you need someone who can hit big shots from the start. Ravindra Jadeja is not a powerful batter, and even though he has been doing well, the power you talk about in T20 games hasn’t been seen in him,” Chopra said.
Jadeja, who has been one of CSK’s most consistent performers in recent years, has been the team’s top scorer in several games. However, Chopra believes that he lacks the power to take the game away from the opposition. “Jadeja is a hard-hitting batter, but he is not someone who can hit big shots from the start. He usually scores runs after the powerplay has ended,” Chopra said.
CSK’s batting lineup has been a concern for the team in recent years. Apart from Jadeja and Dhoni, the team does not have a powerful striker who can take the game away from the opposition. Chopra believes that this is a major area of concern for the team and that they need to strengthen their batting lineup if they want to be successful in IPL 2025.
“CSK needs to find a power-hitter who can bat at the top of the order. They need someone who can hit big shots and take the game away from the opposition. If they can find someone like that, it will be a huge boost for the team,” Chopra said.
Apart from their batting woes, CSK also has concerns in other areas of the game. The team has been struggling with their bowling department, particularly in the death overs. Chopra believes that the team needs to strengthen their bowling lineup if they want to be successful in IPL 2025.
“CSK’s bowling department has been a concern for them in recent years. They need to strengthen their bowling lineup, particularly in the death overs. They need someone who can bowl well and take wickets when the opposition is trying to take the game away from them,” Chopra said.
In conclusion, CSK faces a significant challenge in IPL 2025 due to their lack of powerful strikers. While Dhoni and Jadeja have been consistent performers for the team, they lack the power to take the game away from the opposition. The team needs to find a power-hitter who can bat at the top of the order and strengthen their bowling lineup if they want to be successful in the upcoming season.
