Pathan believes that Dhoni’s current hitting form and the high-scoring nature of the Bengaluru ground make a compelling case for this change.
Speaking on Star Sports, Pathan acknowledged the reasons behind Dhoni batting primarily in the final few overs but expressed his hope that Dhoni would entertain his vast fan base by spending more time on the pitch with the bat.”Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s batting is not the same as it used to be during his peak, when he was 32-33 years old. Here there is a knee issue; he has been playing for so long and faced many problems along the way. He knows that in the last 2-3 years he hasn’t played big innings. He used to come to bat during the 12th-13th over, but he is not now. He has accepted and we should accept it too. But we can only hope,” Pathan said. “He is not coming higher up the order to preserve his knee. Still, I want him to bat more with the form he is in.”
Highlighting Dhoni’s impressive form this season, Pathan added, “He was not in form the last two seasons. But this year, his hitting form is brilliant. He is striking fast bowlers for sixes over the covers. He has excellent reach this time, and it comes with good fitness and when the knees are in good shape. He is hitting with one hand too and he has always showcased power with his backlift. He is even hitting low full tosses. He won’t get a better pitch than Bengaluru. There’s no turn and the ground is not big. And the bowling of RCB is also not up to the mark.”
Despite Dhoni not being the official captain, Pathan emphasized his leadership role within the team. “Even though he is not officially captain of the side, still he is one of the leaders of the team. So taking all the situations into account, he should take the responsibility and come to bat up the order,” Pathan noted.
Pathan also highlighted Dhoni’s running between the wickets, saying, “It is not that he is not running for runs. He is running and when two can be scored he runs with the same intensity and looks good. Then why not? You had said that you are playing for the fans, then fans want to see you spend more time on the pitch with the bat [Aapne kaha na ki aap fans ke liye khel rahe hai, woh chahte hai aap jyada waqt bitaye pitch me balle ke saath],” Pathan concluded.
The upcoming clash between RCB and CSK is a high-stakes encounter that will determine the final team to qualify for the IPL playoffs. Thursday’s washout in Hyderabad confirmed Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rajasthan Royals as playoff contenders, leaving one spot open for either CSK or RCB.
CSK, with 13 points and a net run-rate of 0.528, are favorites due to their superior standings and historical performance at the venue, having lost only once in eight matches against the home side. RCB, with 12 points and a net run-rate of 0.387, face a tougher challenge and must win decisively to secure their playoff spot.
Adding to the drama is the forecast of rain, which could result in a washout favoring CSK’s playoff chances. RCB will need to win by at least 18 runs or chase their target with about 11 balls to spare to advance, intensifying the pressure on the in-form team that has staged a remarkable comeback with five consecutive wins after a six-match losing streak.