Matthew Short feels like one of those signings that makes instant sense for Chennai Super Kings. A 30-year-old Australian opener, BBL captain, and reliable part-time off-spinner, he fits the CSK template almost too perfectly. This is the kind of player we’ve historically trusted, experienced, versatile, and tactically intelligent rather than flashy for the sake of it.
When we picked him up at the auction at his base price, it felt less like a gamble and more like quiet gold. Short brings explosive power at the top, the ability to read conditions, and the flexibility to contribute with the ball when needed.
There’s a clear Shane Watson mould in his profile, an Aussie all-rounder who can anchor, accelerate, and influence games across phases. For us, this isn’t just squad depth. This is structure. If CSK thrives on balance and clarity of roles, Matthew Short might just be one of the smartest acquisitions heading into IPL 2026.
Personal Details
- Name: Matthew William Short
- Born: November 08, 1995
- Age: 30y 80d
- Nationality: Australia
- Height: 6 ft 2 in
- Batting Style: Right-hand bat
- Bowling Style: Right-arm offbreak
- Playing Role: Top-order batter
Who is Matthew Short?
Matthew Short is a product of Australia’s deep and demanding domestic system, shaped long before he became a Big Bash League regular. Born in Ballarat, Victoria, Short’s cricket education began in local club cricket, most notably with Northcote Cricket Club, one of Victoria’s strongest grade sides. That environment forged his fundamentals: strong technique, game awareness, and an ability to adapt across conditions.
His rise continued through Victoria’s domestic ranks, where he earned opportunities in first-class and white-ball cricket before becoming a mainstay for the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL. Over time, Short evolved from a supporting batter into a leader, eventually captaining the Strikers and setting the tone at the top of the order.
What defines Short as a player is balance. He is not reckless, but he is aggressive when required. He reads situations, adjusts tempo, and contributes with off-spin as a tactical option. In recent years, he has emerged as a dependable top-order T20 batter who blends power with clarity, exactly the profile teams trust when structure matters more than flash.
Matthew Short International Stats and T20 Stats
Matthew Short’s numbers in international cricket and T20s underline why he is valued as a modern top-order batter rather than just a power hitter. Playing for Australia, he has shown the ability to adapt across formats, scoring runs with intent while maintaining control against quality bowling. His white-ball record reflects a player who can anchor innings when required but is equally comfortable shifting gears when the situation demands acceleration.
In T20 cricket, his profile becomes even clearer. He has built a substantial body of work as a high-impact top-order batter, combining consistency with aggression and the ability to clear the ropes without sacrificing strike rotation.
More importantly, his output has come over volume, not short bursts, which separates him from one-season wonders. For us, those numbers signal reliability and scalability, a batter who can deliver across conditions, tournaments, and roles, exactly the kind of profile CSK historically trusts.
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Highest Score | 50’s | 100’s |
| ODIs | 18 | 16 | 392 | 24.50 | 93.11 | 74 | 3 | 0 |
| T20Is | 21 | 19 | 392 | 22.47 | 155.28 | 66 | 1 | 0 |
Matthew Short Bowling Stats
Matthew Short’s bowling numbers across ODIs, T20Is, and T20s reveal how he has been used rather than what he is primarily known for. He has never been deployed as a frontline bowler; instead, he has operated as a tactical option, someone captains turn to for balance, match-ups, and control rather than raw wicket bursts. In international cricket, his overs have largely been situational, used to break partnerships or manage run flow when primary bowlers need support.
In T20 cricket, his role becomes clearer. He has been trusted to bowl short, impactful spells, often in the middle overs, where his off-spin and variations can disrupt rhythm. He isn’t a strike weapon; he’s a strategic tool. For us, that matters. CSK values bowlers who understand roles, not just those who chase wickets, and Short fits that profile perfectly, a part-timer who knows exactly when and how to be effective.
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Strike Rate | Average | Economy | Best Bowling |
| ODIs | 18 | 2 | 168.0 | 161.50 | 5.76 | 1/39 |
| T20Is | 21 | 8 | 9.0 | 17.00 | 11.33 | 5/22 |
Matthew Short IPL Stats
Matthew Short’s previous IPL stint with Punjab Kings was brief, but not insignificant. Thrown into a high-pressure environment with limited opportunities, he showed glimpses of why he is valued in T20 cricket. As a top-order batter, he played with intent, looking to score at a healthy tempo rather than merely occupy the crease.
His approach reflected confidence and adaptability, especially for a player new to IPL conditions. With the ball, his role was clearly secondary, used sparingly but with discipline rather than risk. The biggest takeaway from his PBKS spell wasn’t volume, but potential. He never had a long run to truly settle into a defined role, which often shapes an overseas player’s impact in the IPL. Now, with CSK, the context changes. He arrives with more experience, clarity, and maturity, better equipped to translate promise into sustained impact.
| Team | Year | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 4’s | 6’s |
| 2023 | Punjab Kings | 6 | 117 | 36 | 19.5 | 127 | 15 | 4 |
