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Melbourne: Cricket-mad India is set to make Shane Watson a multi-millionaire as the in-form Australian all-rounder is poised to land lucrative sponsorship deals in the country besides getting a massive hike in his central contract.
The dashing all-rounder, who plays for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, is set to follow in the footsteps of pacer Brett Lee, who last year earned $2.1 million through endorsements in India.
Lee is immensely popular among fans in India and has acted in a Bollywood movie besides recording a duet with the legendary singer Asha Bhonsle.
Watson's agent David Flaskas, who previously managed swimming icon Ian Thorpe, says his client is set to land a $500,000-a-season sponsorship deal with a major Indian company.
Watson has already got an upgraded three-year contract with Rajasthan which is worth at $300,000 a season.
"We're in serious negotiations with three Indian companies, one a hair-grooming business, and they are enormously lucrative for Shane," Flaskas was quoted as saying by The Sunday Telegraph.
"I've also met his bat manufacturer and they feel Shane's brand is now strong enough to release a signature bat. He's become a heart-throb in India, I've experienced it with Thorpie in Japan and Shane has a huge following in India. The way he is performing now in Test cricket, the world is at his feet," he added.
