MS Dhoni’s decision to face only two balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad has drawn criticism from former players, with some questioning his absence at the crease when Chennai Super Kings needed him. Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan expressed surprise at Dhoni’s limited role, especially considering his impactful performance in the previous match against Delhi Capitals.
“I don’t understand it. It was unexpected for me to see Dhoni facing just two balls. He showcased his batting prowess against Delhi Capitals, scoring boundaries with ease. Indian batsmen are accustomed to slow tracks like the one in Hyderabad, where they excel. CSK could have benefitted from Dhoni’s presence,” Vaughan commented on Cricbuzz.
Former New Zealand bowler Simon Doull was more scathing in his assessment, sarcastically criticizing Dhoni’s inclusion in the playing XI despite his apparent injury concerns. Doull suggested that Dhoni’s participation, especially after struggling to run in the previous game, was questionable.
“He was badly injured in the last game and shouldn’t have been a part of the Playing XI against SRH. He could barely run a single in the game against Delhi Capitals. They did some miracle to get him ready for the match against Hyderabad,” Doull said.
Doull had previously criticized Dhoni’s innings against Delhi Capitals, labeling it as subpar due to a high number of dot balls and focus solely on boundaries.
Sunrisers’ comprehensive six-wicket victory marked their second win of the season, credited to a collective effort from both bowlers and batsmen. Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings suffered back-to-back defeats, first against Rishabh Pant led Delhi Capitals team in Vizag and now against Pat Cummins led Hyderabad, further denting their campaign.
