Former Australian cricket legend Shane Watson has expressed deep concern about the fate of his time Indian Premier League (IPL) Outfit, that Chennai Super Kings (CSK)as they look to secure a coveted playoff spot in the current 2024 season.
Setback against Punjab Kings
CSK’s ambitions to be in the playoffs suffered a major setback in their most recent game on Wednesday (May 1) when they suffered a resounding seven-wicket defeat against CSK Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the legendary MA Chidambaram Stadium. Notably, this was CSK’s second home defeat of the season. After being invited to bat first, the reigning champions posted a respectable score of 162/7 in their allotted 20 overs with just one skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad Show strength with the willow. Despite setting a challenging target, PBKS, led by their resilient batsmen, managed to reach the total score with 11 balls remaining.
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Shane Watson’s concerns for Chennai Super Kings
Despite currently occupying a spot in the top four of the IPL 2024 points table, CSK is on the precipice where any further slip-ups could prove disastrous. With a record of five wins and as many defeats, CSK desperately needs an impressive winning streak to progress to the next phase.
While there are many uncertainties for the five-time champions, Watson expects a daunting journey for his former team. Watson specifically highlighted the litany of injury setbacks that have plagued CSK of late Matheesha Pathirana And Tushar Deshpande He had to take a break from the most recent PBKS game due to injury or illness.
“Certainly. This is not an easy home game. What makes matters worse is their injury concerns and their bowling supplies. That will be the biggest challenge CSK will have to face. There have been moments during this tournament when it looked like they would have “They have no weaknesses and no holes.” Watson said on JioCinema.
Looking into the future with uncertainty
During the match, CSK suffered another major blow when Deepak Chahar left the field after throwing only two balls. CSK is also expected to lose the services of the Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman for the rest of the tournament as the fast bowler will return home for the T20I series against Zimbabwe.
“Then at certain times we saw gaps appear and now Mustafizur Rahman has played his last game because of the injuries and worries they have. There will have to be a lot of variety, which CSK is not known for. They have had so much success in the past with the continuity of their playing group. “There will be a lot of conversation about using the best home run combinations available.” concluded the 42-year-old.