In a recent IPL 2024 match, MS Dhoni, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cricket star, surprised everyone by batting at the No. 9 spot. This was a first in his career. Fans and experts were puzzled when Shardul Thakur, another player, went to bat before Dhoni. Former Indian cricketers like Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh criticized Dhoni for this, saying he shouldn’t play if he’s going to bat so low.
However, it turns out MS Dhoni’s decision was due to an injury. According to a report from the Times of India, Dhoni has a muscle tear in his leg, which makes it hard for him to run for long on the field. Because of this, he prefers not to bat early in CSK’s lineup.
Dhoni’s Injury Affects CSK’s Season Performance
A few games ago, Dhoni received criticism for not taking a possible double run and then getting run-out later in the same game, which is unusual for him. The report also mentioned that if Devon Conway, another wicket-keeper batter, was available, He would’ve rested for a few matches.
Dhoni is taking medication before going onto the field and trying to minimize running to avoid worsening the injury. Even though doctors advise rest, Dhoni doesn’t have the choice but to play. Last year, he faced similar injury troubles, playing matches for CSK despite a knee injury and later undergoing surgery.
CSK is dealing with many injury problems this season. Conway and Matheesha Pathirana are already out due to injuries, and Deepak Chahar might not return due to a leg injury. This season has been challenging for CSK due to these injuries.
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