Chris Lynn made a significant career decision by prioritizing white-ball cricket over first-class matches while still in his prime, becoming one of the first Australian players to do so. Despite this, his selection for Australia in T20Is and ODIs remained unaffected. However, inconsistency at the international level led to his exclusion from the 2019 World Cup, despite being considered a potential asset for 18 months prior.
In the 2018-19 season, he achieved the milestone of becoming the BBL’s all-time leading run-scorer and also took on the captaincy of the Brisbane Heat, succeeding Brendon McCullum. Lynn’s career was marred by severe shoulder injuries in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, which significantly restricted his run-scoring opportunities.
Despite these setbacks, he showcased his batting prowess whenever he was fit, such as scoring a remarkable 250 against eventual champions Victoria in the 2014-15 Sheffield Shield. Known for his powerful striking ability, Lynn has been sought after in various T20 leagues worldwide, including the IPL, SLPL, and CPL. Additionally, he displayed promise in the longer format early in his career, scoring a composed century in just his second Sheffield Shield game at the age of 19.
Chris Lynn in IPL
Deccan Chargers acquired Chris Lynn for the 4th and 5th seasons of the IPL, paying him USD 20,000 before Sunrisers Hyderabad picked him up for the 6th season. Subsequently, he joined Kolkata Knight Riders for the 2014 edition for 1.3 crores, where he made an immediate impact with a spectacular catch to dismiss AB de Villiers and a quickfire 45, earning him the man-of-the-match accolade. However, his recurring shoulder issues and other commitments caused him to miss most of the 2014 and 2016 seasons and the entire 2015 IPL.
In 2017, The star Australia batter amassed 295 runs from 7 games at an impressive average, including a stunning unbeaten 93 against Gujarat Lions, comprising 6 fours and 8 sixes. He continued to make significant contributions for Kolkata, notably partnering with Sunil Narine for a record 106-run opening stand off just 36 balls. Lynn played all games for KKR in 2018, earning Man of the Match honors twice and scoring 491 runs from 16 matches at a commendable strike rate. Despite a move to Mumbai Indians in 2020, he didn’t feature prominently in the playing XI.