MS Dhoni's batting position has been a hot topic of debate in IPL 2025. The CSK veteran has mostly batted below seven, only in the final overs, however, he has shown he has the power to play those game-changing innings for the team. Dhoni has scored 103 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 150, including seven sixes, the most by a CSK batter this season.

Dhoni promoted himself at four against Punjab Kings, when the team needed 68 runs in the last four overs. He scored 27 in 12 balls but it wasn't enough as CSK lost the game by 18 runs. Uthappa said CSK is going through a transition phase, and he would love to see Dhoni a bit higher in the order.

“I don’t think there was ever a lack of intent from MS Dhoni. Even outside the IPL, I believe Dhoni has passed on responsibility to others and given them a clear understanding of what to expect in the coming years as CSK rebuilds into a championship-contending side. That transition is happening, and while we would love to see MS bat the way he is right now, perhaps a little higher up the order, I don’t think the problem lies at the end.”

Uthappa opened up on CSK's chase and said the team started well but lost the plot in the middle overs. He said that when chasing a big total, the team needs big overs after powerplay, which has been a concern for the CSK.

“They started well, scoring almost 9.8 or 9.9 runs per over, which is as good as you can expect with the kind of openers they have. But you can’t let the game slip in the middle overs, especially when chasing a big total. Approach in the overs from 7 to 12 were very quiet. You need big overs right after the powerplay to keep the pressure on the opposition. Winning the powerplay is one thing, but owning the middle overs is what wins you games and they failed to do that, again. In the last two overs, they needed 42 runs, which is just too many. Had they managed a couple of 15 to 20 run overs in the middle, that equation could have come down to needing just 22 to 25 runs at the end. The intent just wasn’t there,” said the former CSK, MI and RCB player.

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