Overview
- Former teammate S. Badrinath asked whether the 44-year-old should play every game or be used as an Impact Player, pointing to his knee trouble and late-innings role at No. 7 or 8.
- Badrinath also weighed Dhoni’s on-field influence, wondering how much guidance he will give captain Ruturaj Gaikwad given his quiet style and Sanju Samson’s senior presence, yet he said availability should mean Dhoni is on the field.
- Ex-India pacer L. Balaji urged CSK to start Dhoni in at least seven matches, arguing his presence is vital for in-game calls and for steadying Gaikwad early in the season.
- Ravichandran Ashwin rejected using Dhoni as an Impact Player and said he should either play fully behind the stumps or sit out, adding that his primary value is keeping, field settings, and managing a new bowling group.
- CSK has not set a selection policy, and the Impact Player rule allows a mid-match substitute that could tailor Dhoni’s role, with context from last season when he logged 196 runs at a 135 strike rate while batting late; the opener is against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on March 30.