CSK will show equal confidence in him

Former India cricketer Rohan Gavaskar compared Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Shivam Dube’s current run of poor form to that of Shane Watson during the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The star Indian player has been struggling with the bat and on the field as well this campaign, scoring 150 runs in nine matches.

Expectations were massive from Shivam Dube, who was coming into the IPL 2026 campaign, on the back of an impressive T20 World Cup 2026 for Team India. However, he has struggled to make an impression while coming into bat across all different positions in the batting order. His form does not seem to be on the rise after being castled in each of his last three outings, scoring 48 runs at a strike rate of 117.

Rohan Gavaskar recalled how CSK had persisted with Shane Watson in IPL 2019 for the entire season despite the fact that he was not among the runs at all.

“If you want to qualify for the playoffs, you want your main players, your X-factor players to be in form. We have seen with Chennai that when they show faith in a player, they show complete faith. I remember the IPL season where Watson did not score runs all tournament, and then scored a brilliant knock in the final. CSK will show equal confidence in him, because they have faith in him. They know that if his bat talks, then he will win the game for us,” he said on Cricbuzz.

During the league phase of IPL 2019, Shane Watson had only scored 258 runs in 14 matches at an average of 18.43 and an average of 124.04. However, he repaid the faith in the playoffs with consecutive fifties in Qualifier 2 and the Final.

Former India pacer Mohit Sharma remarked that Shivam Dube’s form is one of the final pieces of the puzzle that CSK need to be at their best.

“As far as Dube is concerned, he also knows, and we also know what his calibre is. what kind of a player he is. So if not today, he will eventually score runs tomorrow. CSK have won matches with limited talent till now. All of them together have not clicked together so far. They have not had the perfect game so far,” he said.

Shivam Dube scored a 17-ball 22 in his last outing against the Gujarat Titans (GT), and has not batted in CSK’s last two matches amid the top-order’s stunning form.

“Sarfaraz might replace Urvil” – Mohit Sharma on potential changes in CSK’s playing XI for home clash against LSG

CSK, who have momentum with their side after recent consecutive wins, are up against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in an afternoon encounter at home on Sunday, May 10.

Mohit Sharma stated that CSK could look to bring Sarfaraz Khan back into the playing XI.

“I don’t think there will be any changes, if we think extreme, then Sarfaraz might replace Urvil, because his last two matches have not gone that well. If Sarfaraz is fit, he can come in, and there will be a bit more stability, because Kartik has started scoring runs now,” Mohit Sharma suggested.

Urvil Patel has had to don the No.3 role amid Ayush Mhatre’s season-ending injury. While he has shown glimpses of promise, he has faded away before converting his starts. In three matches, he has scored 45 runs, with a strike rate of 187.50.