CSK vs RCB IPL 2025: Why MS Dhoni came out to bat at No.9?

With the hype around the CSK vs RCB IPL 2025 match, one could easily mistake it for a playoff battle between the southern giants. Moreover, the discussion following Chennai's defeat at their den is as agitated as it gets. Interestingly, the biggest concern for the fraternity and the fans is the batting position of their former skipper, MS Dhoni. Makes one think if every other cog in the team is working seamlessly and it's only Dhoni letting the team down. Chennai Super Kings are surely not looking like they are playing at their best level in IPL 2025. However, there are a lot of elements playing against CSK at the moment, with Dhoni's position in the batting order being one of them, not the whole of it.

Sloppy fielding, unreliable middle-order: All that went wrong for Chennai in the CSK vs RCB IPL 2025 game

CSK started their campaign against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians at home. Headlined by a four-fer by spinner Noor Ahmad, Chennai claimed a seamless 4-wicket victory over Mumbai. The chase saw Ruturaj Gaikwad coming up with a fiery fifty. The rest of the chase was carried by Rachin Ravindra, who played a gritty knock and adorned it with three sixes in the end to finish it for CSK. However, even in that match, Chennai's middle order remained MIA. Dhoni came in the chase after the dismissal of Ravindra Jadeja at No.8, with the match already clinched by Chennai until then.

In the CSK vs RCB IPL 2025 clash, the opponents didn't prove as easy to tackle as MI in the campaign opener. Meanwhile, Chennai also didn't look on par with their previous performance. Noor Ahmad managed to impress once again. MS Dhoni turned up with his lightning-fast arms to bring the breakthrough for Chennai. Phil Salt, playing at 32 off just 16 in the powerplay, made the mistake of leaving the crease with Dhoni behind the stumps. All it took was a fraction of a second for Dhoni to make the chance count as the deadly-looking threat of Salt departed. RCB provided some more chances to CSK, only for the fielders to drop them. Deepak Hooda dropped Rajat Patidar at 17, only for the RCB skipper to smash a half-century. Patidar's charge led RCB to smash a 196-run total, a more than enough figure at Chepauk.

MS Dhoni low batting lower in the order the only issue for CSK in IPL 2025?

The chase was over early for Chennai. Rahul Tripathi was backed yet again in the opening spot, above skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. Tripathi failed yet again. The Gaikwad from the CSK vs MI game was nowhere to be found, as the player this time departed for a 3-ball duck. Deepak Hooda remained as impactless as he proved in the fielding, leaving CSK reeling at 26 for 3 in the powerplay itself. Next came Sam Curran, Shivam Dube, and Ravindra Jadeja. While Dube tried, none of them proved to be enough support for Rachin Ravindra, who sustained till 41 off 31. Dhoni, meanwhile, sat patiently in the dressing room, as even Ravi Ashwin came above him in the order.

When Dhoni finally arrived, the game had long gone from CSK's grasp. The finisher smashed some boundaries towards the end, bringing down the margin of defeat. The sixes showed the ability that Dhoni still carries, and his promotion in the order would highly help CSK. However, at 43 years old, CSK's dependency on Dhoni to carry the order is a worrisome sign. When the whole middle order fails, it's definitely not the right move to pinpoint just that specific issue. Dhoni the wicketkeeper is going great, better than his counterparts in the league. Dhoni the batter would benefit CSK if he comes up the order. But the puddle in the CSK camp neither starts nor ends at Dhoni's batting spot.

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

The experts might differ. From Aakash Chopra to Harsha Bhogle, all have opined on the former champion's batting position. Virender Sehwag took a dig by noting that Dhoni came "early." However, no one's ready to address the unending dependency of a team on a 43-year-old who has carried the team to the highest spot in the league with 5 trophies, 12 playoffs, and 10 final appearances. Yes, there's a spot available if Dhoni vacates. But, do CSK have a fitting wicket-keeping replacement? Do they have a credible player who can cover for the failure of middle-order single-handedly?