IPL 2020: Shane Watson informs CSK of retirement from all forms of cricket

Australian cricketer Shane Watson has reportedly informed his CSK teammates that he is retiring from all forms of cricket, following CSK’s last match against KXIP, where the team emerged victorious for the third consecutive time.

Watson, who retired from International cricket in 2016, was bought by CSK during the auction in 2018. The opener played a major role the same year to earn CSK its third IPL title after he hit a 57-ball 117 in the final match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. “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,” a news agency quoted its source. Shane Watson has made 3874 runs at an average of 30.99 and picked up 92 wickets from 145 matches, including 4 centuries and 21 half centuries, having played for Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and CSK. The Aussie opener played his last match for CSK on October 29 against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Despite his average outing this season, Watson managed to score 299 runs in 11 matches with the help of two half centuries. The all-rounder, who was the first overseas cricketer to score a century and take a hat-trick in the Indian Premier League, was also reportedly the highest-paid non-Indian cricketer in the world for five consecutive years between 2011 and 2015.