CSK\u2019s campaign is in serious jeopardy after a disheartening 25-run loss to Delhi Capitals at their once upon a time fortress, the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Using 17 players in four IPL 2025 games, including every one of their seven overseas cricketers getting a look in at least once, demonstrates a surprise departure from their ever-settled look.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Expressing confidence in CSK\u2019s ability to rebound, Shane Watson\u2014the ex-Australian cricketer who memorably scored a century for the side to win the 2018 IPL final against Sunrisers Hyderabad\u2014 said he would be surprised if they don\u2019t turn things around and expects them to keep the same top-order batters they used against DC.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cNormally, after every mega auction, CSK have always really thought out and lined up all of their positions from their batting line-up, to bowling options. So to be able to see within the first four games, there being quite a few adjustments, which is very unlike CSK.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve always been \u2013 like when I was fortunate enough to be able to play with them, they - Stephen Fleming, and MSD (MS Dhoni) at that time - were very clear on what the roles were before the tournament started. They didn\u2019t really change that much.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFor CSK, obviously, with the auction that they had as well, there\u2019s just a few holes that they\u2019ve been trying to fill. With the team that they played in the last game, actually, with Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra opening, then that just, for me, is a much more solid opening combination with Ruturaj batting at number three. Previously with (Rahul) Tripathi opening, it\u2019s just meant there\u2019s a few too many holes in their team in general.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSo I\u2019m confident now that with the decisions they made before the last game, once they just have a few games back-to-back playing together in different conditions, I\u2019d be very surprised if they aren\u2019t able to turn it around, because I\u2019m more confident, especially from a batting perspective, they\u2019ve got the top three or four to be able to set the tone, whether they bat first or second, and make it easier for the middle order and the lower order to be able to capitalise on a good start,\u201d said Watson, a JioStar expert for the tournament, to IANS on Monday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
CSK\u2019s struggles with the bat stem from a poor start and an inability to assert control in the middle overs. In statistics provided by Cricket-21 to IANS, CSK have the worst scoring rate in power-play (7.5), while losing eight wickets and middle overs (7.4), for the loss of 12 wickets, though the death overs numbers (10.1) for the loss of five wickets is just marginally better.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
During Watson\u2019s last IPL season with CSK in 2020, he saw Gaikwad\u2019s remarkable turnaround firsthand - the right-hander hitting three straight fifties after a poor run in first three games. Following that, Gaikwad became a key part of CSK and scoring heavily in their 2021 and 2023 championship wins.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hence, it\u2019s puzzling that Gaikwad has batted at number three this season, a change from his usual opening role. Gaikwad\u2019s average as a CSK opener stands at 44.01, which is way more than his average of 29.57 as a number three batter. Although Watson believes Gaikwad should open, he accepted that his number three spot was a result of the other local Indian batters' inability to score sufficient runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFrom my perspective, I would absolutely prefer Ruturaj to open from game one, that is where he\u2019s at (his best). He loves opening and has scored his most runs opening the batting. He\u2019s an incredibly good opener because he\u2019s got the technical skill to be able to manage a brand-new ball swinging around.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBut then his ability to be able to then bat through an innings and score very quickly is something very special. So I honestly would have preferred Ruturaj to open the batting from game one. But because they\u2019ve gone down the route of Rachin Ravindra opening and then having Ruturaj batting at number three, they seem like they\u2019ve had to now hedge their bets and go all in with Devon Conway opening with Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj batting at number three to be able to fill that sort of gap they\u2019ve got with their local Indian batters not performing how they\u2019d like.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSo, look, I understand why Ruturaj is now batting (at) three. But I certainly would have preferred him to be opening from game one. Then if they had to fill a gap, it would have been in the middle order more so than moving Ruturaj out of his favorite position, which is opening.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"He scored majority of his runs there, and all his hundreds (have come) batting as an opener. So I\u2019m not sure how they\u2019re going to be able to make that move now. But I would have loved to have seen that from game one,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With the broadcasters framing this week of IPL 2025 around rivalries, CSK has a difficult task ahead. They play Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on Tuesday, before facing Kolkata Knight Riders at home on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"He scored majority of his runs there, and all his hundreds (have come) batting as an opener. So I\u2019m not sure how they\u2019re going to be able to make that move now. But I would have loved to have seen that from game one,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> Highest tax paying cricketers<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n