Harbhajan Singh Comes Up With A Big Statement Against MS Dhoni

In a surprising move that left his former teammate Harbhajan Singh scratching his head, MS Dhoni chose to shuffle down the batting order to No. 9 in the recent clash against Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium. This decision raised eyebrows, particularly given Dhoni's remarkable form in this IPL season, boasting a staggering strike rate of 224.49. With 10 boundaries and nine massive sixes from just 49 deliveries faced, Dhoni's prowess with the bat has been undeniable. However, rather than occupying his usual slot in the lower-middle order, Dhoni opted to anchor the tail-end, a strategy he's deployed sporadically in the past. Yet, Sunday marked a first in his illustrious T20 career as he strode out to bat at No. 9 for the very first time. Unfortunately, his innings was fleeting, as Harshal Patel's cunning slower delivery found its mark, dismantling Dhoni's stumps without him troubling the scorers, much to the dismay of fans and critics alike.

Harbhajan Singh, voicing his bewilderment, questioned Dhoni's tactical decision, particularly placing himself below seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur. The veteran spinner contended that if Dhoni finds himself unable to occupy a position higher than No. 9, perhaps it's time for Chennai Super Kings to consider bolstering their pace attack instead. As the decision-maker within the team, Dhoni's call to bat at such a low position stirred debate and speculation, prompting scrutiny over the team's strategy going forward in the tournament.

“MS Dhoni shouldn't play if he wants to bat at the number 9 slot. It is better to include a fast bowler than him in the playing XI. He is the decision-maker and has let down his team by not coming out to bat," former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh said on commentary. 

"Shardul Thakur came ahead of him. Thakur can never hit shots like Dhoni and I don't understand why Dhoni made this mistake. Nothing happens without his permission and I am not ready to accept that this decision to demote him was taken by someone else," he added. 

Chennai set a competitive total of 167/9, propelled by Ravindra Jadeja's aggressive 43 off 26 deliveries. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad's brisk 32 off 21 and Daryl Mitchell's handy 30 off 19 also bolstered the innings. Punjab's Rahul Chahar and Harshal were the standout bowlers, claiming three wickets each. Punjab's chase stumbled early, losing two crucial wickets, including the in-form Jonny Bairstow, within the second over.

A brief partnership of 53 runs between Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh provided some stability. However, once they departed in quick succession, Punjab found themselves struggling. Despite efforts to revive the innings, wickets continued to fall regularly, and they could only manage 139/9, falling short by 28 runs. Jadeja, after his batting heroics, starred with the ball, clinching three crucial wickets. Tushar Deshpande and Simarjeet Singh also made notable contributions, securing two wickets each to seal Chennai's victory.