Virat Kohli’s Ex-IPL Teammate Retires From International Cricket (Source: AFP)
Indian wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat has announced his retirement from international cricket. Aged 32, the cricketer kept wickets for Team India during the accident-struck absence of Rishabh Pant between early 2023 and early 2024.
Bharat ended up playing seven Test matches for India during the period, and had made his international debut under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. In his retirement announcement, the Andhra cricketer extended his gratitude to his international captain Rohit Sharma as well as to his ex-RCB colleague Virat Kohli.
KS Bharat announces retirement with emotional Instagram post
On Thursday, June 4, KS Bharat announced his retirement from international cricket. The 32-year-old took to his Instagram account and confirmed the same with an emotional social media post.
He wrote “With a proud heart and sense of gratitude, I announce my retirement from international Cricket. To play for my country has been the greatest honour of my life. This journey of mine has demanded great resilience and strength but the Honour to represent India in Tests worth every moment.”
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Bharat also thanked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) for assisting him in his cricketing journey.
He added “Thank you, BCCI and all the coaches and managers who I came across in my career and who supported me unconditionally by creating a great environment to play an excel at the highest level. Thank you Andhra cricket Association, VDCA and all office bearers for your support and encouragement from my childhood.”
KS Bharat thanks Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid
KS Bharat made his IPL debut back in 2021, doing so for the RCB franchise under the leadership of Virat Kohli. A couple of years later, the Andhra wicketkeeper-batter made his Team India debut during a home Test series against Australia, when regular stumper Rishabh Pant was out of action owing to his near-fatal car accident.
Bharat made his international debut when Rohit Sharma was India’s captain and Rahul Dravid was national head coach.
In his emotional social media post, the 32-year-old thanked Virat Kohli as well as Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid for helping him gain recognition in Indian cricket.
He wrote “A big thank you to my IPL Debut captain Virat Kohli for giving me an opportunity to show my skill and come into recognition. A big thank you to my Indian Captain Rohit Sharma under whom I made my Test debut which is priceless and beyond words. To my Indian coach Rahul Dravid sir, his guidance from India A to Indian team is unforgettable.”
A look at KS Bharat’s career
KS Bharat played just seven Test matches for Team India between 2023 and 2024. Batting in the middle-order, the right-hander managed to aggregate just 221 runs in 12 innings at a below par average of 20.09.
Bharat, however, boasts of a prolific first-class record with 113 caps to his name, and plundering over 6,000 runs in red-ball cricket at an average of 36.53. While the wicketkeeper has announced his retirement from international matches, he will continue to play domestic cricket.
BCCI forced to formulate retirement policy
Not long ago, Vijay Shankar also announced his retirement from international cricket.
The latest trend of player retirements has reportedly prompted the BCCI to formulate a new retirement policy for Indian players. The matter gained prominence after many players announced their retirements to play in overseas T20 leagues.
The report also stated that the policy will be discussed at the Apex Council meeting.
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