Former Australian gun fast bowler Brett Lee has urged veteran MS Dhoni to bat up in the batting order for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2024. Dhoni was at his vintage best against Delhi Capitals at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

The veteran smoked a whirlwind knock of 16-ball 37 with the help of three fours and four maximums as he scored his runs at a strike rate of 231.25. The jubilance on CSK fans’ faces was palpable as they witnessed Dhoni bat for the first time in IPL 2024.

Dhoni was able to hit the ground running as he smashed a boundary on the first ball he faced. The wicket-keeper bat was dropped on the second ball by Khaleel Ahmed and then he made sure that CSK didn’t lose by a huge margin.

“He was on tonight, he was not rusty. I do want more from him in terms of batting. Get yourself up the order. He is outstanding, his brain is still nice and sharp, CSK please get MS Dhoni up the order,” Brett Lee said on Star Sports.

On the other hand, former CSK all-rounder Shane Watson also showered praise on his former captain. Watson said Dhoni’s aura is something really special.

“With MS Dhoni in this type of form – this is exactly what you want from him. His power and the skill he has got under pressure when the bowlers are really scrambling to execute, his ability to win a game out of nowhere we have seen so many times through his career. Some of his shots he played tonight, that’s as good a shot I have ever seen him play. The one over cover is one of the harder shots to play, but he is still doing it. The aura that he brings to the game is something so special.”

Dhoni looked at his best despite not playing at the top level for almost a year. The former CSK batter could be lethal if he decides to promote himself in the batting order.

Chennai Super Kings will next take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Friday.