Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt lashed out at perceptions built around MS Dhoni since the the IPL 2020.
Dhoni has led the Kings to three Premier League titles and is regarded as one of the most destructive limited-overs players in the game. But a major dip in the legend’s returns with the bat since last year has given birth to claims that his presence is now holding CSK back as a side.
Dhoni made only 200 runs from his 14 games of IPL 2020 with a strike-rate of only 116.27. During the Indian leg of IPL 2021, the limited-overs giant struck just 37 runs from his four innings.
On Sunday, he started the UAE leg of the tournament with a failure, making a score of three versus Mumbai Indians.
Butt, however, came out in defence of Dhoni:
“If Dhoni is CSK’s weak link, every team will want a weak link like him,”
“He can still hit the big sixes. Yes, he has been struggling a bit of late, but that happens with every cricketer. I don’t think he is the weak link in any way.”
Butt added that Dhoni is one of CSK’s “biggest strengths”, given his leadership qualities and tactical nous from behind the stumps.
The Kings suffered their maiden league-stage exit in UAE last year but have been a team rejuvenated in IPL 2021, winning five and losing only two of their games in the first half and making a successful start to the UAE leg as well, securing victory versus defending champions.
