IPL 2020: Aakash Chopra gives verdict on MS Dhoni's leadership ahead of CSK vs DC bout

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) MS Dhoni is back in action with his side in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Friday (September 25), however, the CSK skipper was brutally criticized for coming in late to bat against Rajasthan Royals (RR).

Dhoni arrived at the crease in the 14th over when Chennai Super Kings were 14/5, needing 102 runs 38 balls at a required rate of over 15. This decision left many people stumped. In a big chase, why did not MS Dhoni promote himself ahead of the likes of Sam Curran, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kedar Jadhav? Rahul Tewatia’s three-wicket burst had put Chennai Super Kings on the backfoot in their chase of 217.

Dhoni came out to bat and he struggled to get going as he made nine off 12 balls. Faf du Plessis was hitting sixes at will but the asking rate kept mounting.

Finally, when the match was beyond their grasp, MS Dhoni unleashed himself with three massive sixes off Tom Curran. Dhoni finished on 29 off 17 balls but the main question that everyone was asking is why didn’t Dhoni bat higher up the order. 

However, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra defended Dhoni's move and claimed that the former Indian skipper "never shies away from taking responsibility".

"It was also about the fact that Dhoni hadn’t played competitive cricket in 14 months. After the game against Rajasthan, he admitted that he was rusty. The long layoff, followed by the long quarantine did not help his cause as a batsman," Chopra wrote in his ESPNCricinfo column.

"What it tells me about Dhoni is that he is a realist, for he is the first to admit that his lack of confidence in his batting abilities played a part in the making of those crucial decisions. There’s a thin line between bravado and foolishness, and also a thin line that separates caution and fear."

"I think the idea of demoting himself in the first two games was not to shy away from the responsibilities of a leader but to give Chennai the best shot at winning the game. Dhoni felt that he wasn’t ready to bring the team home and chose not to let ego come in the way of a pragmatic decision," he added.

"He started this tournament with no form whatsoever and has now worked himself into some kind of form with the three sixes in the final over against the Royals. As the matches shift to venues where scores in excess of 200 won’t come about too often, Dhoni might quietly start fitting himself into places in the batting order from where he will be able to make significant contributions to wins," the former Indian batsman further added.

CSK are back in action tonight against Delhi Capitals at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai tonight.