Looks like MS Dhoni will come out to bat at No.3 in the powerplay in IPL 2026: Ravi Ashwin

Former Indian spinner and analyst Ravi Ashwin has stated that the former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni doesn’t look like he would bat down the order at No.9 in the forthcoming IPL 2026 season.

Speaking exclusively on his YouTube channel, Ashwin asserted that Dhoni looks set to come out to bat at No.3 in the powerplay overs after witnessing the way Dhoni has begun practice. Notably, Dhoni has already begun his practice for the IPL 2026 season at the Jharkhand Cricket Association Stadium in Ranchi.

"Dhoni looks set to play as he has already started practicing. He's looking fit. Some said he may not play in the 11, or this might be his last season. But it looks like he got motivated seeing Imran Tahir. Looking at him, it doesn't look like he'll bat at No.9. He looks like he'll come out to bat at No.3 in the power play and be the enforcer, the way he has begun practice,” Ravi Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Furthermore, Ashwin also previewed the CSK’s batting line-up ahead of the upcoming season, adding that they boast a powerhouse of a batting lineup. Moreover, he felt that if CSK gets their combination right, life would get tough for the opposition bowlers. 

"They've scouted very well and boast a powerhouse of a batting lineup. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Karthik Sharma, and Prashant Veer is a batting lineup, barring the inexperience in the last two, you ask how are teams going to stop this batting lineup? Even a 200 to 200 becomes really difficult for teams to stop CSK to," he added.

"Even Jamie Overton is going great guns. Only the combination CSK decides to go with is to be seen. Ayush Mhatre, irrespective of what happens in the U-19 World Cup, will deliver in the IPL. CSK's batting is a tough one to stop. If they get the combination and momentum right, that is a batting lineup that's really going to make work very difficult for bowlers around the tournament,” he concluded.

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