Chennai SuperKings will absolutely turn it around in IPL 2023, no doubt in my mind: Shane Watson

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has said that Chennai SuperKings will bounce back in IPL 2023, after a dismal outing last time around in the league.

CSK finished ninth in the table last year, having won only four of their 14 matches and also had a mid-season captaincy change with Ravindra Jadeja handing the reigns to MS Dhoni.

The franchise has bounced back from tougher situations a couple of times in their history, and Watson is expecting them to do the same in IPL 2023.

Speaking to Sportstar, the former CSK all-rounder said that the team will definitely bounce back this year as they have so many great players and are led well by Dhoni on the field and head coach Stephen Fleming.

“CSK will definitely bounce back. They always do. They have got too many great players and are led so incredibly well by MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming. They will absolutely turn it around, there is no doubt in my mind, knowing how they work. Right at the back end of my career, to be able to play with CSK and for us to perform as a team in two of the three years was great. The CSK fans, for sure, are something very special,” said Watson.

Watson also commented on IPL 2023 probably being Dhoni’s final dance and said that the former India skipper can play as long as he wants as his fitness is still high.

Watson feels that Dhoni will have a big point to prove this year as he will have to show he can play and lead the side well at the age of 41.

“He can keep playing for as long as he wants. He is still very fit and it looks like he has put in more work in the lead-up to this tournament. He has a big point to prove that you can play and lead incredibly well as a 42 (41)-year-old. He’s the man,” said Watson.