It was incredible to see how MS reads the game: Shane Watson

After playing for Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore in earlier seasons, Shane Watson donned the yellow jersey this year, being picked by the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 auction. CSK captain MS Dhoni showed faith in the all-rounder by sending him to open the innings in every match, and Watson lived up to it with brilliant consistency.

At the wake of CSK sailing into the playoffs even before they played their last league match, the Australian had some praises to shower on his skipper, Dhoni. This is the first time he is playing in the same team with Dhoni and that too under his captaincy. Watson said he felt fortunate to be able to give his best, both in terms of batting as well as bowling.

Fortunate to be playing for CSK

“I’m very fortunate to have an opportunity at CSK like I have, to be able to open the batting throughout the tournament, to be able to bowl certain overs whenever MS (Dhoni) needs me,” Watson was quoted saying by cricket.com.au.

He also talked about Dhoni’s “incredible” leadership skills and mind-work, and that being able to witness it all firsthand was a great experience for him.

“To be there for MS but also for my selfish point of view to be able to see how his mind works and how incredibly he reads the game, to be able to ask those questions has been great as well,” added the opener.

The former Indian captain is known for his excellent ability to read the game right in any situation and take the necessary risks at the moment, no matter how unorthodox. For someone who has played with quite a few great players in the past, Watson’s words further go on to show how explicitly Dhoni works with his experience and intuition in the game.

MS is certainly right up there

“Just his feel and intuition for the game, I’ve experienced that with a few incredible players I’ve played with, MS is certainly right up there,” Watson said.

Recently, just before the IPL started, there were many talks in the cricketing circle that MS Dhoni has aged and is nowhere near his best. But once again he proved everyone wrong his season and showed that he has still got enough in him to be counted among the best.

“The feel that he has for the game, what a batsman is going to do, what a bowler should do, as you can see when he bats as well, nine times out of 10 he chases the runs down as well,” Watson concurred to that.

Watson himself has performed brilliantly in this IPL, with one century, a couple of half centuries and a total of 438 runs. He has previously been a part of the champion team when Rajasthan Royals lifted the trophy in the first season in 2008. With the first qualifier match coming up on Tuesday against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, he would be looking forward to another, this time with the Super Kings.

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