Robin Uthappa wants MS Dhoni to come higher up the order for CSK

Tuesday saw yet another defeat in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings, their fourth loss on the trot after winning their first game of the season. And once again, the defeat to Punjab Kings came while chasing a total. The 18-run defeat to Punjab Kings joins its predecessors like the 25-run loss to Delhi Capitals, the six-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals and the 50-run rout Royal Challengers Bengaluru this season for CSK.
The match saw Chennai Super Kings’ veteran chase master Mahendra Singh Dhoni falter once again. Dhoni walked into the middle with CSK needing 59 runs off 18 balls. While Dhoni scored 27 off 12 balls (with a strike rate of 227) and hit three sixes on the night, it was not enough.
Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa weighed in on the conversation around MS Dhoni’s intent and the evolving role at Chennai Super Kings after the defeat to Punjab Kings.
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“I don’t think there was ever a lack of intent from MS Dhoni. Even outside the IPL, I believe Dhoni has passed on responsibility to others and given them a clear understanding of what to expect in the coming years as CSK rebuilds into a championship-contending side. That transition is happening, and while we would love to see MS bat the way he is right now, perhaps a little higher up the order, I don’t think the problem lies at the end.”
Uthappa then spoke about CSK’s chase.
“They started well, scoring almost 9.8 or 9.9 runs per over, which is as good as you can expect with the kind of openers they have. But you can’t let the game slip in the middle overs, especially when chasing a big total. Approach in the overs from 7 to 12 were very quiet. You need big overs right after the powerplay to keep the pressure on the opposition. Winning the powerplay is one thing, but owning the middle overs is what wins you games and they failed to do that, again. In the last two overs, they needed 42 runs, which is just too many. Had they managed a couple of 15 to 20 run overs in the middle, that equation could have come down to needing just 22 to 25 runs at the end. The intent just wasn’t there,” said the former CSK, MI and RCB player.