Cricket

IPL 2024: Shane Watson offers an ominous prediction for CSK after their defeat against PBKS

May 2, 2024

Former Australian cricketing legend Shane Watson has raised poignant concerns regarding the fortunes of his erstwhile Indian Premier League (IPL) outfit, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), as they endeavor to acquire a coveted playoffs berth in the ongoing 2024 campaign.

Setback against Punjab Kings

CSK’s aspirations for playoff contention suffered a considerable setback in their recent fixture on Wednesday (May 1), as they succumbed to a significant seven-wicket defeat against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium. Notably, this marked CSK’s second home defeat this season. After being invited to bat first, the reigning champions managed a respectable score of 162/7 in their allotted 20 overs, with only skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad showcasing fortitude with the willow. Despite setting a challenging target, PBKS, led by their resilient batters, chased down the total with 11 balls to spare.

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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 finds themselves teetering on the edge, where any further slip-ups could prove catastrophic. With a tally of five wins and an equal number of defeats, CSK are in the dire need of a formidable winning streak to advance to the next phase.

While uncertainties abound for the five-time champions, Watson foresees a daunting journey ahead for his former team. Watson pointedly emphasized the litany of injury setbacks that have beset CSK of late, with Matheesha Pathirana and Tushar Deshpande sidelined from the recent PBKS encounter due to injury and illness, respectively.

“Certainly. That’s not an easy run home. The things that compound it are their injury worries and their bowling stocks. That’s going to be the biggest challenge that they would have to face CSK. There were moments throughout this tournament where it looked like they had no weakness and no holes,” Watson said on JioCinema.

Looking ahead with uncertainty

During the game, CSK suffered another big blow when Deepak Chahar walked out off the field after bowling just two balls. CSK are also set to lose the services of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman for the remainder of the tournament as the fast-bowler will return home for the T20I series against Zimbabwe.

“Then we have seen at certain times that holes have appeared and now, because of the injuries and concerns they have, Mustafizur Rahman has played his last game. There’s going to have to be a lot of shuffling around, something that CSK aren’t known for. They have had so much success in the past with continuity through their playing group. There’s going to be a lot of talks around making best of the combinations available, for the run home,” the 42-year-old concluded.