Shane Watson, Chennai Super Kings opener has reportedly brought down curtains on his career. The former Australian allrounder who played from IPL’s inaugural year 2008 announced his decision to retire from all forms of cricket after CSK played their final game of the ongoing IPL 2020 season on Sunday against Kings XI Punjab.
CSK took on Kings XI Punjab in their last game and won the match eventually by nine wickets to leave the competition on a high note. The all-rounder was not a part of the playing eleven for the game. The veteran allrounder, who has been struggling with his form this season, last played for CSK against Kolkata Knight Riders on October 29.
Shane Watson Was Emotional While Announcing Decision To Retire
Shane Watson has scored 299 runs in 11 matches averaging 29.9 with 2 fifties this season. He joined CSK in 2018 after an intense battle between DD, CSK and RCB for Rs 4 Crore.
According to The Times of India, all-rounder Shane Watson told his CSK teammates about his decision right after the match was over. A source informed the news outlet that he was very emotional while revealing the decision to retire to the dressing room.
“Watson was very emotional when he told the CSK dressing room after the last game that he would retire. He said that it was a great privilege for him to play for the franchise,” the source was quoted as saying by TOI.
The allrounder, who joined the franchise in 2018, managed to bag a place in CSK’s cricket history by scoring a century in 2018 IPL final, which helped the side win their third title and first since 2011. He played from 2008 to 2015 for Rajasthan Royals before playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016 and 2017.
He was eventually signed by Chennai Super Kings. Shane Watson played 59 Tests, 190 ODIs and 58 T20Is for Australia before retiring in 2016 from international cricket after debuting in 2002.
Shane Watson Played 145 Matches For Rajasthan, Bangalore And Chennai
In 2019 too, he had scored a fighting fifty in the final against Mumbai Indians but CSK lost the thriller by one run. Before joining CSK, he had featured for Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Overall, he played a total of 145 IPL games, of which 43 matches were for CSK. He had also picked 92 wickets besides scoring 3874 runs.
He retired from IPL as one of its most decorated allrounders. He scored 3,874 runs at an average of 30.99 with the help of 4 centuries and 21 fifties. He is considered one of the best limited-overs all-rounders and was awarded the Player of the Series in a number of tournaments, including the 2009 Champions Trophy, 2012 World T20, 2008 IPL and 2013 IPL.