IPL History: Three overseas players whose careers blossomed after playing the league

#3 Shane Watson

Shane Watson

Shane Watson played in the IPL for the Rajasthan Royals in the maiden IPL season in 2008. He performed well with both bat and the ball scoring four half-centuries to guide his team to victory in three matches of the tournament and in the semi-finals. He also picked up 17 wickets, won four Man of the Match awards and also the Man of the Tournament award.

On the basis of his IPL performance, Watson was selected to replace Matthew Hayden in the one-day series as part of Australia's tour to the West Indies, after Hayden was injured during the IPL season. He is also the first Australian captain to score a century in T20 international.

Before the IPL he was not the regular member of the Australian side. But post his good show in 2008 season the Australian cemented his place in the ODI side. He went on to score over 5500 ODI runs for Australia, including nine centuries. The all-rounder did really well with the ball too, taking 168 ODI wickets at an average of 31.80.

He is regarded as one of the best Australian all-rounder ever played the limited overs cricket for the nation, thus IPL did play its part in spoting the overseas talents.

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