IPL 2018: 5 players Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) should not retain

Shane Watson

Time for Watson to head out?

When Shane Watson was acquired by RCB in 2016, he was a just-retired T20I star who had performed admirably in his last international assignment (the World T20). With Virat Kohli flying high with his unmatched batting prowess in IPL 2016, Watson's swashbuckling batting was put on the sidelines, even as his bowling started showing signs of depletion: he managed a solitary wicket in eight games.

Come 2017, and Watson, a year into retirement and rusty from the lack of games, was suddenly thrust into the captaincy's role, with both Kohli and de Villiers indisposed, and an erratic Gayle not promising a first-XI start.

Watson floundered, unable to carry the team along, burdened by his own misfiring bat. When Kohli and de Villiers returned, Watson became a punching bag as he swung between the top and middle order, trying to find a place where his bat might gather runs.

The only solace was his bowling, that stood out from the rest of the attack's shoddy showings, helping him capture 20 wickets from 16 games.

He did get off to a flier in the 2017-18 BBL season, scoring a quickfire 46-ball 77 and looked in pristine form with the bat.

With the ongoing BBL season most probably his last, Watson, who'll be touching 37 by the time the next IPL starts, might not garner the same excitement that he might have during his international days.