Former Australia all-rounder and CSK’s opening batsman Shane Watson has decided to bid goodbye to all forms of the game after his franchise Chennai Super Kings ended the IPL 2020 on a winning note, defeating Kings XI Punjab in Abu Dhabi on November 1, 2020.
A report in Times of India suggested that Watson told the CSK team and officials that he would “retire from all forms of cricket.”
"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 source told TOI.
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The Aussie opener had already retired from international cricket when CSK bought him in 2018 from the auctions. He played a big role with his century in 2018 final that helped CSK win the title for the third time. Apart from his century in the 2018 final, Watson's brilliant show in 2019 final was also a superb effort when CSK fell one run short.
The 39-year-old Aussie, who has played 59 Tests, 190 ODIs, and 58 T20s at the international level, has played a total of 145 IPL games, of which 43 matches were for CSK.
Before CSK, Shane Watson had turned out for Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore and was the first MVP of IPL history in 2008. He won that award for the second time in 2013, while still playing for the Royals, becoming the first player to win the award two times.
His IPL 2020 was indifferent with him making 299 runs with two half-centuries, but his fitness issues and limitations on the field were clearly visible. He didn’t bowl a single ball in the IPL 2020.
It was evident that time was running out for Watson, who retired from international cricket in 2016 and from most domestic T20 leagues in 2018. But MS Dhoni picked him in the auctions and backed him despite his poor form and he came good for them on big occasions.
"He has always done very well against us, and Dhoni knows how important a player he could be if he is used properly at the top of the order," a CSK official had said.
(Times of India inputs)
