IPL 2024: AB de Villiers Requests CSK Management to Promote MS Dhoni in Batting Order

The legendary South African batter AB de Villiers has suggested that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) should consider promoting MS Dhoni in the batting order.

AB de Villiers believes that although Dhoni has a reputation for late-innings fireworks, he could make an even greater impact with more time at the crease, as he will have more balls to play.

Here’s what AB de Villiers’ said on his YouTube channel:

“At what point do we think that maybe he’s good enough to go out at No. 5 or No. 6? I’m not saying go and bat at No. 3, but just give yourself a few more deliveries. You’re so destructive as a batter. You can win games for CSK, you’ve done so for so many years.”

Dhoni has racked up 91 runs in six innings at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 260, which is the highest strike rate in the tournament for anyone with over 60 runs. The former Proteas also hailed Dhoni as the best finisher in the entire IPL 2024.

“He is still the most destructive batter for CSK after all these years. The best finisher by a country mile, I think, in the entire IPL at the moment.”

Additionally, AB de Villiers also acknowledged that perhaps MS Dhoni is simply trying to give the younger players who play cricket year-round more opportunities by demoting himself in the batting order.

“Yeah, I understand he is a guy who is not playing a lot of cricket these days. He comes in, prepares for the IPL and that’s all he plays. So, maybe him batting down the order has come from himself thinking that he is not in such great form. Maybe the younger guys, who play 12 months of the year, deserve a chance to bat up the order,” De Villiers concluded.