With the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League set to begin on March 28, former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has suggested that Chennai Super Kings should promote Mahendra Singh Dhoni higher in the batting order to maximize his impact in the tournament.

Speaking on JioStar, Pujara shared his views on Dhoni’s batting position, pointing out that the veteran wicketkeeper-batter has been batting at number seven or even lower during the past few IPL seasons.

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“I don’t see a point in MS Dhoni batting at Number 8 or 9, because he has the potential to turn games around single-handedly, something no other batter in the CSK team can do. If he bats for only five or ten balls, imagine what Mahi bhai can do if he plays 25 or 30 balls,” Pujara said.

Chennai Super Kings, one of the most successful franchises in IPL history with five titles, will be aiming to secure a record sixth championship in the upcoming season.

However, the team has experienced mixed results in recent years. CSK finished fifth in the 2024 edition and ended at the bottom of the points table in the previous season.

Pujara, who was part of the CSK squad during their title-winning campaign in 2021, also spoke about the team culture within the franchise. According to him, the Chennai setup is known for its supportive environment and long-term backing of players.

“I’ve been in the CSK setup. In that environment, players are very comfortable; it’s like a family. When you’re in that setup, there is clarity about what is expected of you as a player,” Pujara said.

He also highlighted the franchise’s tradition of showing loyalty to its players, noting that many cricketers have remained with the team for several seasons.

“Loyalty also comes into the picture because most of CSK’s players, if you look at the history, once a player is part of that setup, he stays there for a long time. There is a transition in the team now, so there is a bit more preference for young players,” he added.

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