Dinesh Karthik announces retirement on 39th birthday!

'I officially announce my retirement and put my playing days behind me.'

Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on his 39th birthday on Saturday, June 1, 2024.

Karthik, who made his India debut in an ODI against England at Lord's way back in 2004, made the announcement on social media. The Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper represented India in 180 games across the three formats, and was part of the T20 World Cup teams in 2007, 2010 and 2022 and ODI World Cup in 2019.

He scored a century and seven fifties in 26 Tests scoring 1025 runs, while taking 57 catches and six stumpings. In ODIs, he scored 1752 runs in 94 games with nine fifties while taking 64 catches and seven stumping. In T20 Internationals, he scored 686 runs with one half-century, taking 30 catches and eight stumpings.

"Having given it plenty of thought for sometime now, I have decided to move on from playing representative cricket, I officially announce my retirement and put my playing days behind me as I square up for the new challenges that lie ahead," Karthik said on X.

"I'd like to thank my coaches, captains, selectors, teammates    and members of the support staff who have made this long journey pleasant and enjoyable. Among the millions that play the sport in our country, I consider myself among the lucky few to have had the chance to represent the nation, and luckier still to have earned the goodwill of so many fans and friends."

He played for six teams in the IPL including Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians. Overall, he played 257 matches in the T20 league, scoring 4842 runs at an average of 26, with 22 fifties, along with taking 145 catches and 37 stumpings. He signed off a high with 326 runs in the recently-concluded IPL 2024, stroking 326 runs in 15 matches, at a strike rate of 187 as he played an instrumental role in their amazing comeback after a horror start to qualify for the play-offs.

"My parents have been pillars of strength and support over all these years, and I wouldn’t be what I am without their blessings. I also owe plenty to Dipika (Pallikal), herself a professional sportsperson who often put her career on hold to walk my journey with me," he stated.

Karthik will be doing commentary during the T20 World Cup, which gets underway on Sunday.