IPL 2018 auction: Highest paid cricketers at the auction every year and how they fared in that year

2016

Shane Watson (9.5 crore) - Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore had proven in the previous auctions that they weren’t shy of shelling out money if they wanted a particular player. It was evident with the big signings of Kevin Pietersen (in 2009), Yuvraj Singh (in 2014) and Dinesh Karthik (in 2015) over the past few seasons.

In 2016, they went after Australia all-rounder Shane Watson and dished out 9.5 crore (INR) to buy him. Even though RCB had a fantastic season in 2016, Shane Watson didn’t have a great IPL.

In the 16 games he played, he scored only 179 runs at an average of 14.75. Most of those innings came at the fag end of the RCB innings, but that was the role assigned to him. With the ball, Watson often bowled the difficult overs (the powerplay and the death) and thus, he picked up 20 wickets.

Watson continued to play for the Bangalore franchise in 2017 as well but was dropped midway through the tournament due to his poor form.

About the author

Sahil is a journalist who covers cricket at Sportskeeda. His passion for the sport goes beyond boundaries, with the Indian Cricket Team and Royal Challengers Bangalore holding a special place in his heart. Having provided text commentary during the 2019 World Cup, Sahil brings extensive experience in covering cricket, showcasing a deep knowledge of the game and its players. He is committed to crafting engaging narratives, staying updated with the latest trends, and sharing valuable insights with readers. Sahil is also well-versed in SEO and journalism guidelines, contributing as an experienced journalist in the sports industry.

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Edited by Anuradha Santhanam