Thirty-six year old Shane Watson delivered a scintillating century on the night of 27th May during the Indian Premier League (IPL) finale between his team Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SH). The player hit an impressive 117 to 57-ball to help his side chase down the competitive total of 179.
This is the third time that the Dhoni-helmed team lifted the IPL trophy. The team inked a stunning comeback from serving a two-year suspension at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
The squad’s celebration following their win was enough to silence any critics that have called them a team of “senior citizens” or “aged team” in the past. The team, which consisted of nine players over the age of 30, was reportedly laughed at the beginning of the tournament for assembling seasoned players. Following the well-deserved victory, Dhoni commented on these remarks.
He said, “We talked a lot about age but what matters is the fitness. Rayudu for example is 33, he’s someone who is fit, covers a lot of ground. Even if he plays a few games where he spends a lot of time in the ground and in the field, he never complains. So it is the fitness that really matters more than the age aspect.”
He further added,
“What captains want is players who move well in the field. It doesn’t matter which year a player is born in, whether you are 19 or 20 – you have to be agile. You have to accept your shortcomings. For example, if I push Watson to stop a single, there is a very good chance that he’ll burst his hamstring and won’t be available for the next game. So what you tell yourselves is that they have to commit and try, but there’s no point getting injured for a single.”