Shane Watson highlights MS Dhoni’s role: Chennai Super Kings opening batsman was vocal about Dhoni’s role during his lean patch.
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The long-awaited sight of watching Chennai Super Kings opening batsman Shane Watson play a formidable innings in IPL 2019 was finally in front of us last night as the veteran batsman registered his 17th IPL half-century in a winning cause.
Opening the batting with Faf du Plessis (1), Watson changed the course of the match with his 53-ball 96 in a 176-run chase at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. Coming on the back of a lean patch, Watson back among the runs is a sign in the affirmative for Super Kings.
Speaking during the post-match presentation ceremony after receiving the ‘Man of the Match’ award, Watson thanked coach Stephen Fleming and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for backing him during his tough time.
“I was due for runs, that’s for sure. I can’t thank Stephen Fleming and MS Dhoni enough for their belief in me. Most of the teams I’ve played in, I would have been dropped by now but they showed the trust in me,” Watson was quoted as saying.
Shane Watson highlights MS Dhoni’s role
Having retired from international cricket, Watson continues to play in T20 leagues. In Big Bash League 2018/19, Watson had scored 344 runs in 14 matches at an average of 26.46 and a strike rate of 129.81.
The 37-year old cricketer was the highest run-scorer in the Pakistan Super League this year. Having scored 430 runs in 12 matches at an average of 43 and strike rate of 143.81, Watson not scoring enough runs in IPL 2019 had come as a surprise.
Being asked about the same, Watson said, “Of course, I was doing alright in the PSL and in the BBL too, struck the ball well. Happy to repay that faith. I knew I was in good nick, just needed to get my head right, get my technique right, had a bit of luck by playing and missing in the beginning. Needed some things to go my way, like it did today when Bhuvi [Bhuvneshwar Kumar] was all over me.”
