Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan took aim at MS Dhoni for batting at number nine position during yesterday's IPL match against the Punjab Kings.
During the match, Harshal Patel got rid of Dhoni for a golden duck, which was also his first duck of the season, with a dipping slower yorker.
While speaking to Star Sports, Pathan added that MS Dhoni batting at No.9 doesn't work for CSK. Pathan opined that Dhoni should take responsibility and come to bat up the order.
"MS Dhoni batting at No.9 doesn't work for CSK, it doesn't help the team's cause. I know that he is 42, but he is in solid form. He should be taking the responsibility of batting up the order. He should bat for at least 4 to 5 overs. He is batting for the last over or last 2 overs and that doesn't serve the purpose for CSK for the long term," Pathan told Star Sports.
“Yes, he made an impact against Mumbai, but here, when the team needed him, you can’t send Shardul Thakur ahead of yourself. You can’t see Dhoni batting at No.9. Sameer Rizvi was also padded up in the 15th over. They need to work out something; someone has to tell Dhoni, ‘Come on mate, bat for 4 overs’," Pathan added.
Throughout the season, Dhoni has batted in nine of the eleven games and amassed 110 runs at an astounding average of 55 and a potent strike rate of 224.48. His best performance to date is an undefeated 37.