Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Moeen Ali came to MS Dhoni’s defense amid growing criticism surrounding the veteran’s batting position and overall impact for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) this IPL season. Dhoni has frequently entered the crease late in CSK’s chases, often when the match was already slipping away.
His appearance as low as No.9 in the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) drew heavy backlash, and his seemingly passive approach in a steep chase versus Delhi Capitals (DC) also attracted scrutiny. Speaking to the Indian Express, Ali, who previously played under Dhoni at CSK, shared his thoughts.
“Is there a better keeper than Dhoni right now? He’s still keeping amazingly well. He’s probably one of the better batters in CSK so far this year. And when I was there, he was one of the better batters all the time. CSK haven’t been batting so well and some are saying somebody should come in for Dhoni. And this is what happens when a team doesn’t win.”
In their recent clash against the Punjab Kings (PBKS), MS Dhoni delivered arguably his finest innings of the season, scoring a quickfire 27 off just 12 balls. Despite his efforts, it wasn’t enough to turn the tide, as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) slumped to their fourth straight loss, leaving them with just one win from five matches.
“Don’t cling to something purely out of selfishness”- Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali emphasized that players should step away from the game when they no longer make a significant contribution to the team. Though he has retired from international cricket at the age of 37, he still participates in T20 leagues worldwide.
“Don’t just hold on for the sake of holding on in a selfish way. Just be a bit more realistic and think, is it worth me holding on? Have I got more to give to the team? If the team wants to go in a new direction, I think you should allow that to happen,” said Ali.
He further added:
“If you’re not performing and you’re at that age where you’re a bit older and there’s younger players coming through and they’re probably playing better than you right now. It doesn’t mean they’re better than you now, but they’re playing better than you. Then you should be a bit more realistic and honest with yourself.”
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