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India's veteran pacer Samad Fallah has called it quits to his professional cricket at 39. Fallah leaves behind a decorated career, etched in history as Maharashtra's highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy.
Samad Fallah calls time on professional cricket
His impressive tally boasts 272 scalps in the prestigious tournament, and a staggering 287 first-class wickets across 78 matches, all at an exceptional average of 28.48 runs per dismissal. Fallah's impact wasn't limited to the red-ball format. He shone brightly in limited-overs cricket too, claiming 75 wickets in List-A matches and 62 in T20s. A defining moment in his white-ball career was undoubtedly the 2010 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final. His stellar four-wicket haul secured victory for Maharashtra, their only senior-level title since the 1940-41 season.
Taking to Instagram with a video montage showcasing his impressive career, Samad Fallah shared a heartfelt message of gratitude and reflected on his cricketing journey.
"Retirement is not an easy identity. but had accepted it a couple of years back. Announcing it is formality… from not playing any age group to taking a fiver on debut and becoming the highest wicket-taker in Ranji Trophy for my Maharashtra. this state has given me my identity... winning the Mushtaq Ali trophy finals by taking a 4-fer to take 10 wickets in semifinals of Ranji Trophy semifinals... Thank you, MCA for trusting me.. I gave my all and (am) so happy. I have played most BCCI finals for Maharashtra.. and will still be with my MCA till I win Trophies for my state. I say goodbye to my bowling which is the most amazing gift I had... Thank You all."
Samad Fallah's official playing career ended in March 2021 with a Vijay Hazare Trophy match for Uttarakhand. He had briefly moved to Uttarakhand for the 2020-21 season before returning to Maharashtra. Despite making himself available for selection in all three formats upon his return, he wasn't given another chance to play for Maharashtra.
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39-year-old Fallah has transitioned into coaching, taking on the head coach role for the Nashik Titans in the Maharashtra Premier League. This move also marks the official end of his playing career. He never played at the representative age-group level, but his talent shone through in local tennis-ball tournaments. These impressive performances eventually opened doors to club cricket. His dedication paid off at the age of 22 when he earned his debut for Maharashtra, making an immediate impact with a match-winning six-wicket haul in the second innings against Himachal Pradesh in November 2007.
Samad Fallah rise to prominence
Samad Fallah's cricketing journey wasn't one of gradual build-up, but rather a rapid ascent. From his debut season in 2007-08, he wasted no time in establishing himself as the spearhead of Maharashtra's bowling attack. This dominance continued for an impressive eight seasons, with Fallah consistently exceeding 20 wickets in every Ranji Trophy campaign. During this peak period, Maharashtra's seam attack was a force to be reckoned with in domestic cricket. Fallah, along with teammates Anupam Sanklecha, Domnic Muthuswami, and Shrikant Mundhe, spearheaded the bowling unit. Their combined efforts propelled Maharashtra to the Ranji Trophy final in the 2013-14 season and the semi-finals the following year.
A defining moment in Fallah's rise came during the 2014 Indore semi-final. His exceptional bowling on the first morning of the match left the Bengal batting lineup in tatters. His fiery spell yielded a remarkable 7 wickets for a mere 58 runs, restricting Bengal to a paltry 114 runs. This performance cemented his reputation as a skilled wicket-taker. By the time Fallah decided to call it a day, his impressive bowling career had earned him the prestigious title of the second-highest wicket-taker among left-arm fast bowlers in Ranji Trophy history. Only the legendary Jaydev Unadkat, with 316 wickets, stands above him on this illustrious list.
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