IPL 2024: Stephen Fleming Reveals Reason Behind MS Dhoni's No. 9 Role

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming discussed MS Dhoni's fitness, emphasizing the team's cautious approach and awareness of his contributions. Ahead of their upcoming IPL 2024 match against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Fleming addressed Dhoni's role during the pre-match press conference.

The fitness of MS Dhoni at the age of 42. 🥶🔥 [Dhoni Entertainment] pic.twitter.com/lS2RzwfwdA

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 10, 2024

"Like just hitting sixes and fours, which he has done pretty well. And keep as well as some of the best in the competition if not the best in the competition. So don't underestimate his influence on the team just because he comes in at No. 9. There's a timing aspect, but we're very wary of what he can give us. And we'll max that out," Fleming said.

He urged against underestimating Dhoni's impact on the team and emphasized the management's intention to maximize his contributions despite his age.

"But we don't want to max that out where we lose him. So it's a delicate balance, but trust me, his best interest is with us, and his interest [is] in performing well for us is still very high. To put the nation at ease - he's okay," he added.

Fleming highlighted the importance of managing Dhoni's workload to avoid risking injury, expressing confidence in Dhoni's current fitness status. CSK currently holds the fourth position in the IPL 2024 standings, having won 6 out of 11 matches and maintaining a net run rate of 0.700.

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