New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 27, 2024 08:41 IST
Chennai Super Kings batting coach Mike Hussey has given a possible reason why MS Dhoni hasn’t faced a single ball yet in the IPL 2024 season after their win over the Gujarat Titans. CSK once again put on a show with the bat as they scored 206 for 6 in their 20 overs, thanks to Shivam Dube’s fifty and Rachin Ravindra’s quickfire 46. However, an interesting thing in the first two matches for the defending champions has been the fact that Dhoni is yet to face a single delivery.
During the chase against RCB, Ravindra Jadeja came ahead of the former skipper, while on Tuesday, the young Sameer Rizvi was tasked with playing a cameo role. Speaking at the press conference, Hussey said that the directive from head coach Stephen Fleming to the batters has been to push the game forward.
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The CSK batting coach also said that Impact rule has also seen the batting order lengthen up for teams, which is why Dhoni has been coming in late. Hussey also said that Dhoni looks to be in form with the bat, despite not facing a single delivery.
“It’s definitely been a directive from Fleming. To keep pushing the game forward. With the Impact Player rule coming in, we got basically an extra batter and a bowler. So the batting order keeps lengthening up. I think we have got MS Dhoni at No.8, which is crazy. MSD is batting really well at the moment as well,” said Hussey.
Keep playing fast: CSK’s IPL 2024 batting approach
Hussey said that the batters have been told to keep playing fast and push the game forward. The CSK batting coach said that the players has been told they won’t be criticised if they fail.
“Because we have got so much depth in our resources, it means that the players up the order, if they’re in two minds, take the positive route. And they certainly have the backing from the coaches and the captain that we prefer you to keep pushing the game as forward as you much as you can. If you get out in doing so, that’s fine. You’re not going to be criticised for that. Fleming’s talk is about playing fast, we want to keep playing fast,” said Hussey.
CSK will now face Delhi Capitals in Vizag on March 31.
Hasibur Rahaman is a passionate sports journalist. He covers everything from cricket to field hockey, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis of sporting events, both within India and on the international stage.
