Star cricketer Dinesh Karthik has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The wicketkeeper-batsman made this decision on his 39th birthday, June 1 (Saturday).
Karthik was recently seen playing for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL season. Reflecting on his cricketing career spanning more than two decades, Karthik took to social media to express gratitude for the affection, support, and love he received in recent days.
In his post, Karthik wrote, "The love, support, and affection I have received in the past few days has overwhelmed me. I am thankful to all the fans who made this possible. After much thought and deliberation, I have decided to retire from cricket. I officially announce my retirement. I am now preparing myself for new challenges ahead, leaving behind my playing days."
Karthik says, "I want to thank my coaches, captains, selectors, teammates, and support staff who have made this long journey enjoyable and fulfilling. I consider myself fortunate to have been among the privileged few who got the opportunity to represent the country. I am even more fortunate to have earned the goodwill of so many fans and friends."
Continuing, Karthik adds, "Throughout all these years, my parents have been the pillars of my strength and support, and without their blessings, I wouldn't be where I am today. I am also very grateful to Deepika (Karthik's wife), who herself is a professional athlete. Many thanks to all the wonderful fans of our great sport. Cricket and cricketers wouldn't be the same without your support and well-wishes."
Dinesh Karthik made his international cricket debut before MS Dhoni. Karthik debuted in Test cricket against Australia in November 2004. His One Day International (ODI) debut was on September 5, 2004, against England at Lord's. He made his T20 International debut on December 1, 2006, against South Africa in Johannesburg.
On the other hand, MS Dhoni made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Chennai in December 2005. His ODI debut was against Bangladesh in December 2004 in Chittagong. Interestingly, both Dhoni and Karthik debuted in T20 Internationals in the same match against South Africa.
Dinesh Karthik has played for 6 teams in the IPL since its inaugural season. He has accumulated 4842 runs in 257 matches, including 22 half-centuries.
Karthik ranks among the top 10 run-scorers in IPL history. Additionally, he has taken 147 catches and executed 37 stumpings during his IPL career.
In this season, Karthik delivered a strong performance, scoring 326 runs in 15 matches of IPL 2024. His consistent displays earned him a place back in contention for the T20 World Cup squad.