IPL 2025: Key Players Who Represented Both RCB and CSK
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen numerous players switch teams, creating fascinating career arcs. In IPL 2025, three notable players who have worn both the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) jerseys are Josh Hazlewood, Shane Watson, and Faf du Plessis. Their journeys provide interesting insights into player adaptability and career evolution.
Josh Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood, an Australian fast bowler, started his IPL career with CSK in 2020. During his debut season, he managed to take just one wicket in three matches. However, he improved significantly in 2021, securing 11 wickets in nine games with an impressive strike rate of 19.1. Hazlewood transitioned to RCB in IPL 2022, where he continued to excel. Over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he accumulated 23 wickets in 15 matches, boasting a remarkable strike rate of 14.5. In 2024, he took a break from IPL for paternity reasons.
Shane Watson
Shane Watson, a former Australian all-rounder, played for RCB in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. During his stint, he scored 250 runs across 22 innings but did not achieve a half-century, focusing more on his role as a bowler and taking 25 wickets. Watson switched to CSK in 2018, where he found greater success with the bat. He scored 1,252 runs in 43 innings, hitting two centuries and seven half-centuries. His most celebrated performance was in the IPL 2018 final, where his century secured the title for CSK.
Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis has been a prominent figure in the IPL, initially playing for CSK from 2012 to 2015 and again from 2018 to 2021. Over this period, he scored an impressive 2,721 runs in 86 innings. In the IPL 2022 mega auction, RCB acquired him for seven crore, and he was appointed as captain. Under his leadership, RCB reached the playoffs twice. His captaincy prowess was matched by his batting excellence, scoring 730 runs in IPL 2023 with an average of 56 and a strike rate of 157.
These players exemplify the dynamic nature of IPL careers and the opportunities for personal growth through team changes. Their experiences highlight the adaptability required to succeed in the competitive IPL environment.
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