Watson Talks About an Emotional Moment of Dhoni's Passion for CSK

image-lfaq8crcWatson starred in the IPL 2018 final with a magnificent century (Twitter)

Former Australian all-rounder, Shane Watson, has shared a poignant moment involving MS Dhoni in the lead-up to the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The Indian legend is a revered figure among fans of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), having been a part of the team since its inception. After a two-year ban, the CSK made a roaring comeback in 2018 and went on to win the tournament.

In an interview ahead of the Legends League match in Doha, Watson reflected on his time with the CSK and recalled the victorious 2018 campaign. He recounted an emotional speech by Dhoni at the first team function, where he expressed his gratitude towards the franchise and the significance of their reunion.

"There was one moment when MS Dhoni got up and spoke at the first team function that we had. You could see how much it meant to him, he got emotional around how much it meant for him to CSK to get back together," Watson said.

Watson went on to describe the team's first match against the Mumbai Indians in the campaign, where Dwayne Bravo's heroics secured an improbable win for the CSK. The former all-rounder credited the immediate belief that the team possessed and the positive environment that Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming had fostered.

The Aussie veteran emphasized that the team's focus was not solely on winning, but on having fun and enjoying the game. He also said that it was a special time for him.

"We never talked about results, (we were) just there to enjoy ourselves. We had a great bunch of players, with families there as well. For me, it was a special time,” said the former Australia all-rounder.

It's important to note that Watson had a poor run with the bat throughout the 2018 IPL season, prior to the final. Despite this, MS Dhoni continued to show faith in his all-rounder and backed him to come good when it mattered most. The all-rounder repaid his captain's trust in spectacular fashion, scoring a sensational century (106 off 57 balls) in the final to lead the CSK to their third IPL title.

Meanwhile, CSK's return to the IPL in 2018 was a momentous occasion, and the team's triumph was a testament to their resilience and determination. 

As the IPL 2023 season draws near, fans of the CSK will undoubtedly be eagerly anticipating their opening fixture against defending champions the Gujarat Titans. The upcoming season promises to be an exciting one, and it remains to be seen whether the CSK can replicate their success of 2018.