MS Dhoni began his career as an opener and his former India and CSK teammate Parthiv Patel believes that he should return to that role.
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It is hard to read MS Dhoni’s mind. While the speculations on IPL 2022 being the last season for the former India and CSK captain are rife, ignited by his call to quit captaincy role, only the veteran wicket keeper-batter knows what is next for him.
However, Dhoni remains an enigma, that cannot be ignored. He not only inspires youngsters through his presence on the pitch but even the greatest of the games like Virat Kohli seek advice from him.
The 2011 World Cup winning captain is no stranger to success. In fact, the success story of the boy from Ranchi, who grew up to be one most successful captains across the format can be seen as a case study for youngsters. He led India to three titles — 2007 ICC World Twenty20, 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and 2013 ICC Champions Trophy — besides building CSK as one of the most consistent and successful franchises with four IPL titles to their name.
READ MORE: IPL 2022 CSK vs RCB: Can Jadeja maintain Chennai Super Kings’ legacy as captain?
Dhoni came under severe scrutiny for his poor run of form and strike rate as a finisher at the 2019 World Cup. He announced his retirement from all formats of the game on India’s 74th Independence Day but decided to continue serving CSK in the lucrative tournament.
His struggle to get among runs was visible in the following season. He notched up the scores of an unbeaten 18, 12, 18, 14 not out and 1 in the last five matches of IPL 2021 that he appeared in.
However, after letting go of the CSK captaincy, Dhoni has looked more content in his approach since the beginning of IPL 2022. He notched up an unbeaten 50 in the IPL 2022 opener against KKR and then scored an unbeaten 16 against LSG on Thursday. But even then he has not been able to strike the ball at his genuine ability in the twilight zone of his career.
“He is someone who has revived the CSK side over the years. MS Dhoni started his career as an opener, why not take the role in the fag-end of his career? He is batting at No.7 now and plays hardly 10-15 balls. So why not Dhoni bat up in the order at No.3 or maybe at 4 or open? Just a figure like MS Dhoni, even if he stays there for 14-15 overs you never know. You will have to do something different,” Patel said on Cricbuzz
“Every time India were in trouble in seaming conditions, MS Dhoni has got runs, whether it was against Sri Lanka where he got 80 in Dharamsala or in Chennai against Pakistan where he got a hundred. With his technique, everyone would think that he would struggle on a seaming wicket and here the ball is seaming around in the first 4-5 overs and he has his own technique and knows how to survive,” he added.
Patel was a part of CSK squad from 2008 and won the IPL for the first time in 2010 with the franchise under Dhoni’s captaincy.
