Former Australia player Shane Watson retires from the Indian Premier League (IPL) after Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the franchise he represented, failed to qualify for the playoffs this season.
Although neither Watson, 39, tweeted about his retirement nor was there a statement from CSK, media reports claimed that the Australian had apparently informed CSK management that it was his last season in the IPL. Watson’s latest tweet was posted on October 30 and was not about his retirement.
Watson has had a successful IPL career and this season he scored a record 83 without losing to Kings XI Punjab. He did not play bowling.
Watson played a key role in CSK winning the IPL title in 2018 and came in tantalizingly for an encore in 2019, when his team lost to the Mumbai Indians by a solo run in the final.
During his memorable association with PL, Watson was part of two title-winning teams – Rajasthan Royals in 2008 and for CSK in 2018. He also won two Man of the Tournament awards, in 2008 and 2013.
Watson represented three teams in the IPL – Royal Challengers Bangalore was the third team – and appeared in 145 matches. He scored 3,874 runs, scored at a strike rate of 137.91 and crashed four centuries and 21 half centuries, as well as capturing 92 wickets, including a hat-trick. He was also captain of RR and RCB.
The Australian had retired from international cricket in 2016.
“Watson was very excited when he told the CSK locker room after the last game that he would retire. He said it was a great privilege for him to play in the franchise. “
