MS Dhoni (Image credit: BCCI/IPL) NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has stirred the debate ahead of IPL 2026 by leaving MS Dhoni out of his preferred Chennai Super Kings (CSK) playing XI. He feels that Dhoni’s current role as a lower-order batsman who faces very few balls does not add enough value to the team unless he takes on more responsibility.Pathan explained that while Dhoni remains a legend, his limited time at the crease does not always help the team. He suggested that a more active batsman like Sarfaraz Khan should take that place.
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