Shane Watson believes that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) could have had a real chance of pulling off a victory against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) if MS Dhoni had batted higher in the order. CSK suffered a 50-run defeat at Chepauk, failing to chase down RCB’s 197-run target. However, the biggest talking point from the game wasn’t just the loss—it was Dhoni’s surprising entry at No. 9, a move that left fans and experts bewildered.
Speaking to Star Sports, Shane Watson expressed that while CSK supporters loved Dhoni’s late cameo, he personally felt the former Indian captain should have been sent in earlier, particularly ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin. Watson emphasized that over the last few seasons, Dhoni has proven he can still be destructive with the bat, and holding him back prevents him from making a bigger impact.
“This is exactly what CSK fans come to see—Dhoni smashing 30 off 16 balls. But honestly, I would have loved to see him promoted up the order,” Shane Watson remarked. “He should have batted before Ashwin. Given the match situation, Dhoni could have played like this for another 15 balls, which might have changed the outcome.”
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The former Australian all-rounder further pointed out that Dhoni’s exceptional wicketkeeping at 43 shows he is still in top physical shape.
“His reflexes are sharp, and he’s still lightning-fast behind the stumps. That tells me he’s match-ready. If CSK had sent him earlier, they would have had a stronger shot at victory. The crowd enjoyed his fireworks tonight, but I’m sure they’d have preferred to see him influence the game even more.”
Beyond MS Dhoni’s batting position, Watson was critical of CSK’s overall team selection and batting combinations. He highlighted that the five-time IPL champions haven’t quite found their rhythm yet, making questionable choices in their lineup.
He particularly pointed out Deepak Hooda’s struggles and suggested that Sam Curran should not be batting as high as No. 5. “Hooda doesn’t look settled. He played each ball like he was trying to survive rather than attack. Sam Curran at No. 5 doesn’t make sense to me—I see him more suited for No. 7.”
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Shane Watson also questioned the decision to open with Rahul Tripathi instead of Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has been one of CSK’s most consistent batters. “Gaikwad is a natural opener, yet he had to come in later. One of his shots against Hazlewood, where he tried to create room, was completely out of character. Normally, he stays composed, but this suggested he was under pressure.”
In Watson’s view, CSK needs to reassess its batting order and strategy quickly. “Right now, their combinations aren’t working. If they persist with this approach, they might find themselves exposed against stronger teams.”
