Chennai Super Kings MS Dhoni (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

The batting position of MS Dhoni in the Chennai Super Kings line up has become a talking point in recent seasons. Fitness concerns have often seen the legendary wicketkeeper batter walk in much lower down the order, sometimes at No. 8 or even No. 9. As a result, Dhoni has been left with only a handful of deliveries to influence the game with the bat.In his prime, Dhoni built a reputation as one of the most destructive finishers in world cricket. Even now, the former CSK captain has produced several quick cameos that remind fans of his finishing ability. Those flashes have sparked debate among supporters and experts who feel he should bat higher to maximise his impact.

India Test veteran Cheteshwar Pujara is among those who believe Dhoni should be given a bigger role with the bat. Speaking on JioHotstar, Pujara said he struggles to understand the logic behind sending the former India captain so far down the order.“I don’t see a point in MS Dhoni batting at No. 8 or 9, because he has the potential to turn games around single-handedly, something no other batter in the CSK team can do. If he bats for only five or ten balls, imagine what Mahi bhai can do if he plays 25 or 30 balls,” Pujara said on JioHotstar.Pujara, who was part of the CSK squad that lifted their record-equalling fifth Indian Premier League title in 2021, also spoke warmly about the franchise’s dressing room culture.“I’ve been in the CSK setup. In that environment, players are very comfortable; it’s like a family. When you’re in that setup, there is clarity about what is expected of you as a player,” Pujara said.He added that loyalty has always been a defining feature of the franchise’s philosophy.“Loyalty also comes into the picture because most of CSK’s players, if you look at the history, stay for a long time once they become part of that setup. There is a transition in the team now, so there is a bit more preference for young players,” he added.Meanwhile, CSK chief executive Kasi Viswanathan has expressed confidence that Dhoni will feature regularly for the team throughout the season.“He (Dhoni) will play all the matches, according to me,” Kasi said.CSK recently secured the services of wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson from the Rajasthan Royals, a move that has raised fresh questions about what role Dhoni will perform in the playing eleven.Kasi clarified that the final call on Dhoni’s responsibilities will rest with the team’s coaching staff rather than the administrative management.“That is a cricketing decision which will be taken by the cricketing staff, not by the administrative staff. So they will decide whether he is going to play as a batsman, as a wicketkeeper-batter, or as an impact player,” he said.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi flaunts new Rs 22 lakh car

NEW DELHI: Fourteen-year-old cricket prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to make headlines with his record-breaking performances and growing list of rewards. After a sensational IPL 2025 season, he was gifted a brand-new car for winning the “Striker of the Season” award. The top model of the car costs over Rs 22 lakh in Delhi.

Vaibhav has recently been honoured for his performances at the ICC U19 World Cup, where India became champions. He met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and received Rs 50 lakh as a special reward for his achievements. Meanwhile, the BCCI also announced a Rs 7.50 crore reward for the Indian Under-19 team after they won the 2026 U19 World Cup.In the World Cup final against England, Vaibhav played a match-winning knock of 175 runs off just 80 balls, helping India win their sixth U-19 World Cup title. Watch Sooryavanshi receiving the car: He hit 15 fours and 15 sixes and reached his century in just 55 balls, one of the fastest in tournament history. He finished the tournament with 439 runs and was named Player of the Match in the final and Player of the Tournament.He first grabbed global attention in IPL 2025 when he smashed a 35-ball century, the fastest by an Indian and the second-fastest in IPL history. He also became the youngest centurion and debutant in IPL history. Rajasthan Royals signed him for Rs 1.1 crore, making him the youngest player ever bought in the league.Vaibhav is already India’s leading U-19 ODI run-scorer and has broken several youth cricket records with his aggressive batting style. He is now preparing for the 2026 IPL season and is expected to be one of Rajasthan Royals’ key players.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi meets Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

NEW DELHI: Fourteen-year-old cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was honoured by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his outstanding performance in the U-19 World Cup. The young star met the Chief Minister, Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary and Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh at the CM’s residence and received a reward of Rs 50 lakh as a special gesture for his achievements.

Recently, the BCCI announced a reward of Rs 7.50 crore for the Indian Under-19 cricket team after they lifted the U19 World Cup 2026 title by defeating England in the final.Sooryavanshi played a huge role in India’s U-19 World Cup triumph, especially in the final against England, where he smashed a brilliant 175 runs off just 80 balls. His innings included 15 fours and six sixes, and he reached his century in only 55 balls, one of the fastest in U-19 World Cup history. He was named Player of the Match in the final and also Player of the Tournament after scoring 439 runs in seven matches with a high strike rate. The left-handed opener has already made history at a very young age. He is the youngest player to debut in the IPL and the youngest to score a century in the league. He also became the youngest T20 centurion and the fastest Indian to reach an IPL fifty. Rajasthan Royals signed him for Rs 1.1 crore at the IPL auction, making him the youngest IPL player ever. Vaibhav has been breaking records across formats, including scoring fast centuries in youth Tests, domestic tournaments and List A cricket. He is already India’s leading run-scorer in U-19 ODIs with over 1,400 runs and multiple centuries. Known for his aggressive batting, Sooryavanshi continues to grab headlines with his fearless style, and he is expected to be a key player for Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming IPL season.

awai Mansingh Stadium (BCCI Photo)

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Royals are standing firm on prioritising fan safety ahead of IPL 2026 and will only proceed with hosting home matches at Sawai Mansingh Stadium (SMS) here only if the Rajasthan government provides an indemnity waiver. This formal assurance would protect the franchise from liability in the event of any untoward incident, accident or loss of life during their home games, ensuring accountability remains with the venue authorities for any pre-existing safety shortcomings beyond the Royals’ control.This demand stems directly from a comprehensive 700-page independent audit commissioned by the Royals and conducted by Tata Projects, which assessed the stadium’s condition and identified serious deficiencies.

The Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC) has largely dismissed most of the audit’s safety concerns, maintaining after its own review that issues are minor and fixable with routine repairs, and that the stadium is fully prepared for IPL duty.A source in the know said that in light of the tragic crowd crush outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium in June last year, it is entirely reasonable for the Royals to exercise extreme caution. “It’s obvious to refuse to overlook potential risks at their home venue in the wake of such a recent and devastating incident,” the source said.The BCCI has faced venue uncertainties for both the Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of IPL 2026. However, while defending champions RCB have now received formal clearance from the Karnataka government to host their matches at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Royals continue to be locked in a standoff over their Jaipur base.A BCCI source has underscored ongoing issues at SMS Stadium, calling it ‘significantly lagging behind all other IPL venues in terms of modern facilities, overall fan experience and essential amenities’.The source added that RSSC received a one-time dispensation to host matches in 2024 due to the absence of a functional Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), with this extended for 2025, but this cannot become a permanent arrangement. “It’s the franchise, the state cricket body, and the IPL Governing Council that collectively organise and take responsibility for IPL matches. They need to recognise this reality,” the source added.