Other teams would’ve dropped me after my bad run of form last year, feels Shane Watson
Shane Watson has shared his gratitude to the CSK leadership group by saying the kind of form he had last year, he might have been dropped in any other franchise he was in last year. He has also added that playing with CSK and understanding how they operate is a very special experience.
After being bought by Chennai Super Kings ahead of the 2018 Indian Premier League season, the Aussie repaid the faith in a big way, smashing 555 runs in 15 innings including two centuries and half-centuries. His century in the tournament finale against Sunrisers Hyderabad was one for the ages, especially the contrast he brought into his batting.
However, in the next season, he was ice cold, failing to fire on most occasions until he hit a 53-ball 96 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad for his first half-century of the tournament. He repeated the feat in the final against Mumbai Indians with an 80, albeit in a losing cause. In a conversation with Nabeel Hashmi, head of player acquisitions at the Quetta Gladiators, Watson's team in the Pakistan Super League, Watson revealed that he would’ve been dropped by the other teams but CSK persisted.
"The 2018 season was one of my better seasons, it wasn't just the final [where Watson made a match-winning century]. But last year, certainly CSK stuck with me through thick and thin. In every other team that I've been in, I may have been dropped a couple of games before I got the runs against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Just them backing me, knowing my next few good innings were around the corner, [was amazing]. Only world-class leaders will really stick by and have the confidence to do that, given the calibre of the players we've got,” Watson told Hashmi.
"That was a great learning for me as well, to be honest, to show that if you believe in someone, you believe in their ability, because you've seen what they've been able to do time and time again and that they will come good at some stage. It worked out well as I was able to contribute, not in the final (laughs), I got run out in the last over (laughs), but up until then, I got as close."
After representing Rajasthan Royals with distinction, Watson played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in one season during the time RR was banned from the league alongside CSK, and the latter brought him for their comeback season. Watson revealed that CSK were an incredible franchise to play against and now it is super fun to play for them.
"CSK had full faith in me, they're an incredible franchise to play against. When I played for Royals against Chennai, I always admired Stephen Fleming, and MS as well, the way he carried himself on and off the field. To be able to play at CSK and experience the way the franchise is run incredibly well from top-down was a very special experience. I do feel fortunate to have this part of my career of the IPL in the last few years, to play for a franchise that looks after everyone so unbelievably well."
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