Mumbai's veteran batsman Muzumdar calls it quits

One of India's finest batsman in the domestic circuit Amol Muzumdar on Thursday announced his retirement from all forms of the game ending an illustrious two-decade career that saw him captain the Mumbai team to a Ranji Trophy title in 2006-07.

- I will miss the Mumbai dressing room: Amol Muzumdar

A talented right-handed batsman, the 39-year-old, who started his domestic career with Mumbai in 1993-94 season, scored 11,167 runs from 171 matches at an average of 48.13, including 30 centuries.

Scoring 9,000 runs in Ranji cricket, Muzumdar represented Mumbai with distinction for several seasons before switching sides to Assam and then to Andhra.

He impressed on his first-class debut for Mumbai, where he made an unbeaten 260 in a Ranji pre-quarterfinal against Haryana and was promptly hailed the next big thing from the Bombay school of batsmanship.

- 'What is the point in playing domestic cricket?'

Not many know that Muzumdar was padded up and next man in for Shardashram English school when Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli stitched their world-record 664-run partnership.

In 1994, he was made vice-captain of India Under-19 and also played alongside Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid for India A.

However, despite making runs steadily in domestic cricket, Muzumdar never made it to the national side.

Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and India batsman Rohit Sharma paid rich tributes to their one-time teammate Muzumdar.

"Amol's spirit left a mark and batting made a statement. Best wishes and welcome to the band of retired!" Tendulkar wrote on Twitter.

Rohit, whose maiden first-class season for Mumbai was under Mujumdar's captaincy termed his as an "unsung hero".

"Amol Muzumdar the unsung hero of Mumbai cricket retires leaving behind a tremendous record!Always put his whole heart into his game #Respect," Rohit wrote.