Shane Watson has predicted a tough final stretch for CSK in the IPL 2024 season after their recent loss to PBKS at the Chepauk on May 1. Punjab secured a comfortable win, which saw CSK get hit by the injury bug once again. CSK were without the services of Tushar Deshpande and Matheesha Pathirana before the match and disaster would strike mid-way through the match as well.
After bowling just 2 balls, Deepak Chahar had to go off the field and never returned to the action. CSK are also set to lose Mustafizur Rahman for the rest of the campaign as he will link up with the Bangladesh side for their T20I series against Zimbabwe. Mustafizur was CSK's leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps to his name.
IPL 2024, CSK vs PBKS: Highlights
CSK now have four matches remaining with them facing PBKS once again in Dharamsala, before taking on GT, RR at home and ending their league matches with a trip to face RCB. Watson, while talking to JioCinema, said that the matches won't be easy for CSK and the injuries and bowling stock dip will make it even tougher.
"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," said Watson.
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Going to be a lot of shuffling at CSK: Watson
With the injuries and Mustafizur's departure, Watson feels that there will be a lot of shuffling around at CSK, which is something they aren't used to doing in their IPL history.
"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," said Watson.
CSK will face PBKS in Dharamsala on May 5 as they look to head back to winning ways.
Published By:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published On:
May 2, 2024
English (US) ·