Former New Zealand cricketer Mitchell McClenaghan has suggested that MS Dhoni should be used as an impact player if he is fit, ahead of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday.McClenaghan said CSK could use Dhoni as an impact player if he is available.“If MS Dhoni is fit, then CSK should bring him in as the impact player. If the team management feels they need a short burst of runs from him, especially when they are chasing, then bringing him in as the impact sub will allow them to make the best use of his batting abilities.”
“Playing as an impact player will mean he may not have to do a lot of running. He can just come in, smack the ball into the stands and do his job of finishing in style. His aggressive stroke-making ability will come in handy for Chennai when they are chasing big scores. I think that is a good way to get Dhoni back into the groove. His presence will really give a lot of strength to the lower middle order of CSK,” McClenaghan said while talking on JioStar.CSK are coming into the game after their first win of the season, which came against Delhi Capitals. The win was set up by an all-round effort, including Sanju Samson’s 115 off 56 balls and a strong bowling display.A fit-again Dewald Brevis allowed CSK to adjust their bowling combination, helping them defend 212 in that match.Will Dhoni play today?Dhoni had a brief batting session in the nets before the KKR match at Chepauk but is still unlikely to play, according to ESPNcricinfo.He has missed all four matches for CSK this season due to a calf strain and is also expected to miss the fifth. The 44-year-old is still working towards full fitness. On March 28, CSK had said Dhoni would miss the first two weeks of the season and undergo rehab, but he has not yet shown match readiness.In training, Dhoni has faced only throwdowns, mainly from batting coach and former teammate Michael Hussey, and has not batted at full intensity. He has also not done any wicketkeeping practice.Dhoni has not travelled with the team for away matches this season.In 278 IPL matches, Dhoni has scored 5,439 runs in 242 innings at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45, including 24 fifties and a highest score of 84*. He is the sixth-highest run-scorer in the tournament. Last season, when CSK finished at the bottom, he made 196 runs in 13 innings at an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of over 135, with a highest score of 30.
