Shane Watson wins the 2019 IPL for Chennai Super Kings
And replaces two legends to become Chennai's favourite hero
Deivarayan Muthu
13-May-2020
No knee-d to worry, Watto will finish it • Getty Images
This time in Alternative Universe, a series in which our writers let their imagination change the game: our CSK-loving reporter goes a little bonkers
The moment
The IPL title is on the line. Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians. Shane Watson v Lasith Malinga. Super Kings need five off three balls. Watson, who has batted on despite a bloody knee, stabs a yorker to deep point. Krunal Pandya swoops down on the ball and rifles an accurate throw to Quinton de Kock, who gathers it and catches Watson short on the second despite a full-length dive. Shardul Thakur swipes a couple off the next ball, but Malinga seals the title for Mumbai with a trademark dipping yorker that torpedoes into Thakur's pads.
The IPL title is on the line. Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians. Shane Watson v Lasith Malinga. Super Kings need five off three balls. Watson, who has batted on despite a bloody knee, stabs a yorker to deep point. Krunal Pandya swoops down on the ball and rifles an accurate throw to Quinton de Kock, who gathers it and catches Watson short on the second despite a full-length dive. Shardul Thakur swipes a couple off the next ball, but Malinga seals the title for Mumbai with a trademark dipping yorker that torpedoes into Thakur's pads.
The tweak
Imagine if Watson had defied his knee and made it to the safety of his crease for the second run? Yes, 37-year-old Watson running harder and putting in a sprawling dive to beat the fast hands of both Krunal and de Kock. More blood gushes out of his knee, but Watson wills himself to get back on his feet and resumes his heroic innings. It's down to three off two balls.
Imagine if Watson had defied his knee and made it to the safety of his crease for the second run? Yes, 37-year-old Watson running harder and putting in a sprawling dive to beat the fast hands of both Krunal and de Kock. More blood gushes out of his knee, but Watson wills himself to get back on his feet and resumes his heroic innings. It's down to three off two balls.
What happened next
Malinga comes from round the wicket again and nails the yorker, which Watson just about digs back to the bowler. No run. Malinga aims for another yorker but this comes out as a low full-toss. It's still a hard-to-hit low full-toss, but Watson bends his hurt knee and monsters a slog-sweep for six.
Malinga comes from round the wicket again and nails the yorker, which Watson just about digs back to the bowler. No run. Malinga aims for another yorker but this comes out as a low full-toss. It's still a hard-to-hit low full-toss, but Watson bends his hurt knee and monsters a slog-sweep for six.
Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh and Dwayne Bravo have all got gigs in Tamil movies previously, having been part of Super Kings, but it is Watson who bags the ultimate deal - signing on for Rajinikanth's next movie (as the hero with Rajni as his sidekick, natch) and becomes a demigod.
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Deivarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo