IPL 2021: Time For CSK To Find A Replacement For Shane Watson Feels Gautam Gambhir

Former Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir has reckoned that Chennai Super Kings needs to find a replacement for Shane Watson at the top of the order ahead of the auction. Shane Watson announced his retirement from all forms of the game after scoring 299 runs from 11 games at a strike rate of 121.05 in the 2020 IPL. He was released ahead of the auction which opens up an overseas slot for CSK ahead of the auction.

CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs in the 2020 IPL season for the first time in the 13 editions of IPL and a lot of question marks were raised about the ageing team of CSK.

MS Dhoni was retained as the captain and Suresh Raina will also return to the squad after missing out on last year’s IPL citing personal reasons. With a mega auction coming up next year, MS Dhoni will not look into tinkering with a lot of players in the squad.

Gambhir Opines Dhoni Might Want An Offspinner

Gautam Gambhir brought out the spin-friendly conditions at Chepauk and opined that MS Dhoni might want an off-spinner in the squad with the likes of Harbhajan Singh being released from the team. He also noted the ageing factor of Dwayne Bravo which might prompt CSK to go for an overseas all-rounder as a backup option for Bravo as well as Watson.

“They need to have a replacement straightaway for Shane Watson because obviously, that is one area. Plus, they didn’t have Suresh Raina last time around. So, Suresh Raina will be available,” Gambhir said on Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’.

“……that’s Chepauk where it’s going to start spinning and gripping. That’s how MS plays his cricket over such a long period of time whenever he has captained CSK.

“So, he might look at an off-spinner because Harbhajan has been released, Shane Watson and probably another all-rounder or a backup for someone like Dwayne Bravo, because probably age is catching up on him as well.” added Gautam Gambhir.

“I Don’t Think CSK Will Have An Overall Revamp” – Gautam Gambhir

“He’s (Dwayne) not the same what he used to be. So, probably there could be an all-rounder and plus an overseas batter because there are two overseas batters normally who open for CSK. There’s not going to be too many changes, to be honest. After this season, there’s going to be a bigger auction. So, I don’t think CSK will have an overall revamp.”