“It’s only logical…” – Aakash Chopra’s blunt take on CSK’s ‘R Ashwin over MS Dhoni’ call

Former India opener has joined the list to criticize CSK’s strange tactics during their IPL 2025 game against RCB at Chennai. Chopra was unhappy with Chennai Super Kings sending MS Dhoni at No. 9 in the batting order. During the match, walked in to bat at No. 8, a step higher than MS Dhoni, who walked out to the crease at No. 9. Chopra was highly critical of this approach and claimed that the situation didn’t make any sense to send Ashwin over Dhoni. Aakash Chopra breaks silence on MS Dhoni’s batting spot Aakash Chopra took to social media to express his disagreement and asked the team management to send up the batting order given his hard-hitting form lately. According to him, would have more chances of winning a game with Dhoni batting up the order. Although Chennai fans want Dhoni to hit sixes, they also want their home team to win games. “CSK fans really love the sight of Dhoni walking into the middle and smashing sixes. But CSK fans must also want their team to win. And with the kind of hitting form that Dhoni has shown off-late, it’s only logical to expect him to give himself enough time to win games for CSK. Ashwin ahead of Dhoni vs RCB didn’t make sense,” Chopra posted on X(formerly Twitter). CSK fans really love the sight of Dhoni walking into the middle and smashing sixes. But CSK fans must also want their team to win. And with the kind of hitting form that Dhoni has shown off-late, it’s only logical to expect him to give himself enough time to win games for CSK.… — Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 28, 2025 Former CSK players slam team’s strategy Not only just Aakash Chopra, former CSK players Irfan Pathan and were also baffled with this strategy as they hoped for Dhoni to bat higher up the order. Both the players took to social media to vent out their frustration. While Pathan termed Dhoni batting down the order “not ideal” for CSK, Uthappa feels that the team missed the trick by not sending Dhoni above as it could have helped their Net Run Rate. Over the last few years, Dhoni has been pushing himself way down the order and often backs himself to go only in the death overs. The decision to drop himself to No. 9 further puts question marks over his role in the team. MS Dhoni’s late cameo MS Dhoni was expected to come in to bat after was dismissed in the 13th over of the match. However, Ravichandran Ashwin came ahead of Dhoni which surprised a few. After Ashwin was dismissed in the 16th over, Dhoni finally arrived at the crease, much to the delight of the crowd. He entertained the crowd with a few lusty blows but it was too late in the end. Dhoni remained not out on 30 off just 16 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. Despite his entertainment, Super Kings lost the match by a big margin of 50 runs.