I'm not surprised by us winning versus Punjab. Like I said, you need a solid plan to beat CSK and the decisions that this Punjab side have made (the result of Rahul's inexperience most likely) are not quite there on the money. They are also heavily reliant on their opening batsmen and bowlers which does make them predictable. It was the same with Watson last year too, he was supposedly in fine touch in the nets but struggled to convert throughout the season until those knockout games. The issue is getting him to that stage of surviving the initial spell versus left-arm spin and inswinging deliveries in the powerplay after which he thrives in most games as illustrated by the only game Chennai losing when he crosses 40 being the final of last year's IPL. A firing Watson will easily be a match winner that can be ably supported by the rest of the crew especially on the bigger grounds where he is one of the few who can effortlessly hit sixes. However, I still think with his age, fitness and general inconsistency that he needs to sit a few games out sometimes to keep him fresh at the very least.
Chawla struggled yet again and I'm not sure how long they will persist with him before Karn or Tahir gets a chance. Jadeja bowling well thankfully helped us a lot and Chahar as always was superb upfront. I don't think Punjab played optimal cricket, Rahul was a bit too slow and failed to eventually make his time at the crease count significantly. Maxi as always was poor at five and needs to be dropped if he is going to play the same role. Cannot justify wasting an overseas spot on him with Neesham and Mujeeb still in the shed and a Gayle shaped hole for the Sharjah games. Most importantly I'm not impressed with Rahul's captaincy. Feel like they've let games slip away from them when a top class captain could have made the difference.
The Jadhav and Dhoni conundrums are interesting. Jadhav's only replacement is potentially promoting everyone else and including a bowler or else replacing him with Jagadeesan in the middle order or Gaikwad as the opener with Faf batting at three. Both of these solutions only cause new problems without entirely solving the problem. Dhoni's problem is far more solvable, if he can catch up later with those big shots I feel it is worth bringing him in earlier even at four and ask him to go at a run a ball against the better bowlers and target the weaker ones who will inevitably bowl out before the death.
No No No! If you keep Watson out right now and then bring him back in, he is going to develop rust quickly on the sidelines and will need a few more innings to get on song. Now that he has hit the kind of gear that he hit today, it makes total sense to lock him in his place and take him all the way through. My voice to drop him would have got way more louder had he continued his failure show today. But man, this guy on song gives confidence to CSK and gets oppositions thinking/fearing that Watson's good day should not coincide in a match against them.
I don't think Chawla has been that bad. He seems to always come in and pick up wickets. Yes, he has not been showing the kind of control expected from him, but whenever he comes in, he is among the wickets and he starts the flow for CSK. Being an indian leggie is obviously an advantage and I think CSK will persist with him. I wish he was a lot more fitter physically and am disappointed that he didn't care for his fitness during lockdown times. Jaddu was way better today (though when Dhoni risked him against Pooran in that last over, Pooran as usual got the better of him; I don't know why left arm spinners are plundered so badly by left handed batsman).
I think the way back in for Tahir is either of Bravo or Curran. More so Bravo, whose need to contribute might diminish further as CSK's top order batting gets better. Already Shardul has bowled really well in the death in two consecutive games now (that last over against SRH; the 18th over today that changed the game on its head)
