Pacer Sreesanth retires from all forms of cricket

Former India pacer S. Sreesanth announced his retirement from all formats of the game, on social media. The 39-year-old had recently returned to the Kerala Ranji team, as pacer after nine years but suffered a toe injury ahead of the match against Gujarat. Sreesanth played 27 Tests and 53 ODIs for India, taking 87 and 75 wickets respectively. He also took seven wickets in 10 T20 Internationals. He was part of the victorious Indian team in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 World Cup.

“Today is a difficult day for me, but it is also a day of reflection and gratitude. Playing for Ecc, Ernakulam district varies diff. League and tournament teams, Kerala state cricket association, Bcci, Warwickshire county cricket team, Indian airlines cricket team, Bpcl, and ICC,” Sreesanth wrote on Twitter. “For the next generation of cricketers. I have chosen to end my first-class cricket career. This decision is mine alone, and although I know this will not bring me happiness, it is the right and honorable action to take at this time in my life. I’ve cherished every moment.” BCCI imposed a lifetime ban on Sreesanth in August 2013 for his alleged involvement in spot-fixing in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

However, the ban was reduced to seven years in 2019, which got completed in September 2020. Sreesanth made a comeback after being named in the 20-member Kerala squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2021. In 2021 and 2022, he got shortlisted for the IPL auction at pacer but went unsold on both the occasions. World Cup-winning India fast bowler S. Sreesanth, one of the best outswing bowlers in the post-Kapil Dev era, retired from all forms of domestic cricket on Wednesday, drawing curtains on his tumultuous career. Having made his international debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka at Nagpur on October 25, 2006.

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The former India pacer suffered a toe injury recently

Sreesanth went on to win the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and also the coveted ODI World Cup in 2011 under Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s captaincy. The 39-year-old played 27 Tests, 53 ODIs and 10 T20Is for India, picking up 87, 75, and seven wickets respectively. He was last seen in action during Kerala’s Ranji Trophy match against Meghalaya last month when he scalped two batters in their innings and 166-run victory. Making his announcement in a series of tweets, Sreesanth said he has chosen to end his 25-year career for the next generation of pacer cricketers.

“It has been an honor to represent my family, my teammates, and the people of India. Nd everyone who loves the game. With much sadness but without regret, I say this with a heavy heart: I am retiring from the Indian domestic (first class and all formats) cricket,” the Kerala-born pacer wrote. “For the next generation of cricketers. I have chosen to end my first-class cricket career. This decision is mine alone, and although I know this will not bring me happiness, it is the right and honorable action to take at this time in my life. I’ve cherished every moment,” he added. “Today is a difficult day for me, but it is also a day of reflection and gratitude.

Playing for Ecc, Ernakulam district, various different League and tournament teams, Kerala State Cricket Association, BCCI, Warwickshire county cricket team, Indian Airlines cricket team, BPCL and ICC. Sreesanth also remembered the incredible moments in his career. “My most memorable delivery was an outswing Yorker to Darren Ganga in 2006 tour of Windies. Inswing Yorker toh sabhi daalte hai, outswing Yorker wasim bhai aur Waqar bhai daalte thee. Jacques Kallis delivery will come after that,” Sreesanth told PTI in Twitter Space chat organised by journalist Ravish Bist. His chequered international career may have lasted less than six years but the temperamental pacer gave good, bad and ugly moments that will always be remembered.