'Feel crazily lucky to have lived out my dream': Shane Watson announces retirement from all forms of cricket

NewsBharati 03-Nov-2020 16:13:06 PM

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Dubai, Nov 3: Australian cricketer Shane Watson, 39, has officially announced his retirement from all cricket on Tuesday. The Chennai Super Kings star, endearingly called Watto, amassed 299 runs with a high score of 83* in the IPL 2020 season. While his last season in the IPL wasn’t remarkable at all, his 3 seasons with the Chennai Super Kings were memorable.

The former Test captain confirmed that he has called time on his career through a short video shot in Dubai. "It all started out like a dream. As a young kid saying to my mum as I watched a Test match as a five year, 'I want to play cricket for Australia'. Now as I officially announce my retirement from all cricket, I feel crazily lucky to have lived out my dream and then some," Watson said on his YouTube channel T20 Stars.

"It really does feel like the right time knowing I played my last game of cricket ever for my beloved CSK who have been so incredibly good to me over the last three years. To think I'm finishing up my playing days as a 39-year-old after all of my injury setbacks along the way, I feel so ridiculously fortunate."

🧢 59 Tests, 190 ODIs, 58 T20Is
💥 10,950 international runs
🏅 Player of the Tournament at 2012 T20WC
🏆 2007 and 2015 ICC Men's CWC champion

🇦🇺 Australian legend Shane Watson has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

Thanks for the memories, Shane 🙌 pic.twitter.com/9gQELTn724
— ICC (@ICC) November 3, 2020

Watson also expressed his gratitude as he said, "3 years with CSK have been of the highlights of my career. After seven successful seasons with Rajasthan Royals, the T20 legend represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore and only found a forgettable run there.

Thank you Watto Man, for everything. May your next chapter open with a bang, as always. Farewell beloved. 🦁💛 #ThankYouWattoMan #WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/lksEyODg19
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) November 3, 2020

However, Watson soon found his redemption in his special stint at CSK and was also a part of MS Dhoni’s title-winning side in 2018. In fact, Watson hit a match-winning knock of 117 off 57 in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad to win CSK their 3rd IPL title. "I'm just so grateful, the last three years have been one of the highlights of my career." Watto's farewell message to the super fans.

"I'm just so grateful, the last three years have been one of the highlights of my career." Watto's farewell message to the super fans. #ThankYouWattoMan 🦁💛@ShaneRWatson33 #WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/NYppMFbOJM
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) November 3, 2020

One of the most memorable for the cricket fans when in the IPL 2019 final, which CSK lost just by 1 run to MI, he top-scored with an incredible 59-ball 80 while batting with a bloodied knee, for which he received 6 stitches after the game. "I have played with a lot of different things before so a bit of blood was not going to stop me especially at such a big time for CSK. The love and support that I have got since joining CSK has been mind-blowing," Watson had said.