IPL 2024: Stephen Fleming elaborates MS Dhoni’s role in CSK - hit fours, sixes and guide Ruturaj Gaikwad

The Chennai Super Kings think-tank raised a few eyebrows when their talisman Mahendra Singh Dhoni walked out to bat at number nine in the franchise’s last match against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala. The move, although did not yield any result as Dhoni was castled for a first-ball duck, sent rumour mills working overtime speculating an aggravating knee injury.

As CSK gears up to take on Gujarat Titans in an IPL league game in Ahmedabad, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming put all doubts to rest on Dhoni’s fitness, said while his workload is being managed, and elaborated on what role the former skipper is playing in the team. “We are managing his workload. We have seen that early on in the season, with a little bit of muscle injury, that if he bats too long, we run the risk of losing him. So we are trying to find that balance where he can have an impact on the match by just hitting sixes and fours, which he has done pretty well and keep wicket as well as some of the best in the competition,” Fleming said on the eve of the match.

The New Zealander said Dhoni’s role is to score fours and sixes at the end of the innings and also help CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad navigate the tide in his first season as captain. “We want to keep MS Dhoni on the field, doing what he does best, which is the last two, three overs, and four overs with the bat and his keeping and his ability to share tactical advice with the new captain is really important. So we are valuing other things too,” Fleming explained.

Fleming said Dhoni’s workload management is a fine balance and while he is economical with his movement, his hand-eye coordination and speed are something that cannot be pointed out. “He can run and he is not going to bat for a long period of time. He is very economical with his movement, so he can keep in his hands and his hand-eye coordination and speed is as good as any. So there are no problems with that. We are just guarding against him, batting for five or six overs, having to sprint every couple of balls. So it is a specific role that we're using him for,” Fleming added.

CSK are currently placed fourth in the IPL points table with 12 points from 11 matches. CSK play Gujarat Titans on May 10 at Ahmedabad, then play Rajasthan Royals in Chennai on May 12 before playing Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their last league match in Bengaluru on May 18.