S Sreesanth retires

Shanthakumaran Sreesanth has announced his retirement from all forms of Indian domestic cricket on Wednesday, March 9. This brings down curtains on a turbulent career. The 39-year-old was seen playing his last firt-class game for Kerala against Meghalaya in the 2021-22 edition of the Ranji Trophy. He finished with bowling figures of 2-40 and 0-57 in the fixture.

“During my 25 years career as a cricket player, I’ve always pursued success and winning cricket games, while preparing and training with the highest standards of competition, passion and perseverance,” tweeted Sreesanth on Wednesday (March 9). “It has been an honor to represent my family, my teammates and the people of India. And 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.

“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,” stated Sreesanth on Twitter.

Sreesanth has bagged 213 wickets in 74 First-Class matches. He has 124 List A wickets in 92 matches and 54 wickets in 65 T20 matches. The right arm pacer made his India debut in October 2005 in a ODI match against Sri Lanka. He picked 75 ODI wickets for India in 53 ODIs. He also has 87 Test wickets in 27 matches. Sreesanth was a part of Indian cricket team which lifted the 2007 inaugural T20 World Cup trophy and the 2011 edition of ICC Cricket World Cup. He ended with 7 wickets in 10 T20Is for India.

Sreesanth’s last international appearance was in 2011 in the Oval Test against England. He also represented Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, bagging 40 wickets in 44 IPL games. His last IPL match was for the Royals against Punjab on May 9, 2013, the season in which he was accused of being involved in spot-fixing which led to his arrest.

Sreesanth was handed a life ban along with Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila. But he challenged the decision in the Supreme Court, which set aside the life-ban and asked the BCCI to consider a fresh punishment. The sentence was reduced to a seven-year suspension which ended in September 2020.

Sreesanth then returned to play for Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2021 at the age of 38, while he made his Ranji Trophy comeback in the ongoing edition of the Ranji Trophy. He even submitted his name for the IPL mega auction but found no takers.