MS Dhoni explains why he bats late in IPL

MS Dhoni is not only a legendary figure of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) but also a cornerstone of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The former India skipper, who was known for his match-finishing abilities, attracted a lot of criticism regarding his batting positions during the last couple of IPL seasons.

During his days as an active international cricketer, he used to bat at number 7, but in the last couple of IPL seasons. Especially during the IPL 2025 campaign, the keeper-batter came to bat after his usual batting position, which annoyed many cricket fans. During a recent event, Dhoni explains why he came late to bat in the IPL. The legendary cricketer compared the game with a full-course meal, and his batting position as the dessert. Through the comparison, he tried to highlight the importance of timing in cricket.

"Right now, I’m the dessert, while others are the starter and the main course. My role is to come in later and finish strong. If you make the dessert your main course, you might get diabetes! Cricket, like a meal, needs timing; play your part at the right moment, and the result will be sweet," MS Dhoni said.

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MS Dhoni explains his late batting positon in IPL for CSK

From these comments, it is now assumed that in the upcoming IPL season (IPL 2026), he could maintain the tendency to come to bat from a deeper position. In IPL 2025, Dhoni, 44, batted in 13 innings to score only 196 runs in total at an average of 24.50 with a best score of 30 not out.

The previous season was a huge setback for the 5-time IPL-winning team, as they finished in the bottommost position in the points table. In 14 games, CSK managed to win only 4 and lost on 10 occasions, mostly because of a series of poor batting performances.