It's been more than four years since Shane Watson, the marquee Australian all-rounder, the winner of two ODI World Cups and two Indian Premier League titles, retired from all forms of cricket. The retirement unshackled him from the relentless grind of an elite athlete, but he could not resist cricket's all-encompassing pull. Always on the move, he is building a life around the game that gave him everything. After brief stints in coaching, and commentary—two of the most straightforward career transitions for an elite athlete—he found his true calling: a mental health coach for athletes. Watson himself understood the importance of mental strength late into his career, at 34. He flew to Charlotte in North Carolina where he trained under performance specialist Dr. Jacques Dallaire to enhance his psychological edge. A late awakening, perhaps. Not only did this inner work sharpen his final stretch, but it also paved the way for him to play what is usually considered the greatest innings in the IPL final—a match-winning century for Chennai Super Kings in 2018. As IPL fever sweeps across the nation, the highlights of Watson's innings swirl on the internet. But that's not his sole contribution in leading a team to the IPL championship. Ten years before that swashbuckling century, in what was the inaugural edition of the IPL, Watson had an all-time great campaign for Rajasthan Royals, where he scored 472 runs and claimed 17 wickets to guide them to their only title. The 43-year-old was recently seen in action in the International Masters League—a spirited tournament uniting retired cricketers from six nations—where he led the Australian team and scored multiple centuries. 

Here's an excerpt from an exclusive interview with Shane Watson: 

You appear to have maintained your shape and youthful vigour even after retirement. What's the key to staying so fit? 

I have maintained my commitment to cardio and strength training even after my retirement. My dedication to gym workouts and fitness remains as strong as during my active career. However, running has consistently posed a challenge for me. Preparing for jogging sessions has always been difficult, but I am working on it throughout this tournament. Additionally, I ramped up my physical training once I knew I would be competing in the International Masters League. 

You've been in top form with the bat in the Masters League. Is it purely muscle memory, or have you been quietly honing your skills behind the scenes? 

Batting is what I know better than anything else in my life; it is all about muscle memory. But I certainly did not want to enter this tournament without having picked up a bat for a couple of years. The instincts are fully ingrained in me, so I just needed to shake off the rust. It took me a couple of weeks and several sessions to get my reflexes back and to pick up the length and line quickly. Once I started to feel the groove, and hitting the ball really well, it gave me confidence that I would have a good chance to perform at my best. 

You've dedicated your life to cricket, and then retirement hits. What has been the biggest change for you—physical or mental? 

It is always challenging for an athlete, to move away from one thing that they know better than most people on the planet. I did everything I could to set myself up for the next phase of my life. I have tried to keep myself engaged and stay connected to the game through various ways. I have been fortunate to be involved in coaching. It was fun to be the assistant coach of Ricky Ponting at Delhi Capitals for a couple of seasons. I also enjoyed commentary, since it gave me an opportunity to talk about the game that I am so fond of. But a big part of what I do nowadays is to work on the mental skills of players. 

Did you find a new passion or purpose that fills the void left by cricket? 

Yes, I found another passion: golf. It's something I've always loved. I played a lot during my teenage years and early twenties, but I suffered a back injury around the time of the 2003 World Cup, forcing me to stop playing. After that, I didn't play much golf until I stopped playing at 39. I realised that golf would be an outlet for me to challenge my skill development, so it's definitely something I take every chance to play and improve. 

Let's rewind to the 2018 IPL final. You'd faced ten balls without scoring a run—what was running through your mind at that moment? Did you still believe you could turn it around and deliver a match-winning century? 

That century was a culmination of all the mental skills I have learned in my career. Every ball I faced, even those first ten where I hadn't scored, the process remained the same. I made sure to tick off my technical and mental checklists after each delivery. A wicket fell as well, but instead of getting panicked, I kept returning to the right thoughts at the right time. I knew that if I stayed in the middle, and reacted to the best of my ability, we would be able to chase down the target. Everything kept steering my mind back to that focus. I was also a bit fortunate that a few things fell in my way, like favourable match-ups, and a few mishits that landed in the gap. It was one of the most high-pressure situations of my career, and I managed to guide my team across the finishing line. 

You were the pivotal member of Rajasthan Royals when they won the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League. How quickly has the game evolved since then? 

It has changed quite a lot since 2008. One thing that stands out to me is the strength of the local Indian players. In the early years of the IPL, there was always at least one player—a specific batter or bowler—that you could target. However, nowadays, there are no weak links from a local bowling perspective. Then the totals continue to get bigger and bigger. Batters have now more strokes at their disposal to clear the field. This was definitely not the case in the initial years of the IPL. The impact rule has significantly influenced the batters' mindset. It has freed them up, as they know they have the safety net of an extra batter that they can bring in if needed. 

Which teams do you see as the top contenders to win the IPL title this season? 

I would be surprised if Chennai Super Kings don't do incredibly well. They always find a way to be able to put together a very complete squad that covers all the bases. They have veterans like Stephen Fleming as their head coach and MS Dhoni as the most seasoned campaigner, so they know how to get the best out of the team. Then Mumbai Indians have done a great job in the mega auction, and they can never be ruled out. 

What would be your surprise pick? 

Punjab Kings. They also did pretty well at the auction, and they also have someone like Ricky Ponting as the head coach now. Whether it's the local players or international talents, Punjab have got a lot of depth in their squad, so teams need to beware of them. 

How crucial is developing strong power-hitting skills for young cricketers aiming to succeed in modern cricket? 

For any young cricketer coming through, it is absolutely essential to have a power game that you can tap into when needed. While having a solid technique serves as a necessary foundation, you also require the ability to hit boundaries. Regardless of whether you are a power hitter, or someone who employs reverse or switch hits, or ramps the ball, it's important to be able to hit in different areas.