'MS Dhoni is of an age where....': Matthew Hayden raises alarming 'decline of CSK' concern
Ahead of the start of the season, Australia batting legend Matthew Hayden has raised an alarming concern pertaining to captain Dhoni.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be aiming to put behind their horrendous show at the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) when they kick off their campaign in the 16th season in Ahmedabad on March 31 against defending champions Gujarat Titans. MS Dhoni is expected to lead the team this year after a forgettable run under Ravindra Jadeja's captaincy last year. But ahead of the start of the season, Australia batting legend Matthew Hayden has raised an alarming concern pertaining to captain Dhoni.
CSK have always been known as the Dad's Army because of the average age of playing XI. Despite T20 being dubbed as a game for the younger generation, CSK have always invested in experienced cricketers, which included Hayden at one point in their IPL history, and the strategy led them to 4 titles.
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However, the former CSK batter feels that the team needs veteran players like Dhoni, 41, and Ambati Rayudu, 37, to play a more key role than be in the team as just mere leaders. Hayden feels that IPL 2023 could be a significant season for CSK with these two players in the side who could either bring their experience to the best use or could lead to a second successive poor season.
Hayden, in conversation with Star Sports, said: “They have had this for a little is that they're kind of a Dad's Army - a tagline that they seem to have received. This year is a little bit the same as well. MS Dhoni is of an age like Ambati Rayudu where they really need to be key players, not just have the potential as leaders of the team. So those two key players in particular, with that age of their side, is it going to be experience or is it going to be decline of CSK?”
CSK had earlier lost the plot with their Dad's Army strategy in IPL 2020 season when they had finished second last in the points table. But ahead of the 2023 season, CSK did make some big changes in their side which included letting go of Dwayne Bravo and two other veteran players in Robin Uthappa and Chris Jordan. Their biggest buy at the auction was England all-rounder Ben Stokes, who was roped in for INR 16.25 crore.
