‘Dhoni is of an age like Ambati Rayudu where they really need to be key players’, Matthew Hayden

CSK will aim to put behind their poor run in the 2022 edition of the IPL when they open their campaign in the 16th season against defending champions Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on March 31. MS Dhoni is expected to lead the team this year after a poor show under the captaincy of Ravindra Jadeja last year. But before the start of the season, Australia’s veteran batsman Matthew Hayden has raised a concern about captain Dhoni.

Matthew 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.”

Hayden added – “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?”

However, the former CSK batsman feels that the team needs experienced players like Dhoni (41) and Ambati Rayudu (37) to play more important roles in the team rather than just being leaders. Hayden feels that IPL 2023 could be a crucial season for CSK with these two players who can either make the best use of their experience or lead them to another poor season in a row.

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Ahead of the 2023 season, CSK make some big changes –

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.

In 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.