The ongoing Ranji Trophy season signifies the end of an era in domestic cricket, as five prominent players bid farewell to the game, creating a substantial void to be filled.
Their reasons for retirement include a lack of incentives such as an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract or national call-up, as well as pursuing new endeavors or focusing on political pursuits.
Five players who retired from domestic cricket
Manoj Tiwary
One of the doyens of domestic cricket, Manoj from Bengal, bid farewell to the game after leading his state to a convincing victory over Bihar on February 19.
Tiwary dedicated over 19 years to serving his state, and despite being 38 years old, he led Bengal to the finals of the Ranji Trophy last season.
Known for his aggressive batting style, he has accumulated over 10,000 first-class runs. As a captain, he consistently led by example, contributing to Bengal's rise as a formidable team.
Saurabh Tiwary
Saurabh, the absence of the supremely experienced player will leave a significant gap that Jharkhand must address. The 34-year-old left-handed middle-order batter made his first-class debut as a teenager during the 2006-07 Ranji Trophy season. Over the past 17 years, serving as the Jharkhand captain, he emerged as a prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket, featuring in 115 first-class matches and accumulating 8,030 runs in 189 innings at an average of 47.51. This impressive record includes 22 centuries and 34 half-centuries.
"I think, if you are unable to make in the national team or IPL, it is best time to leave space for talented youngsters," Tiwary said while announcing his retirement last week.
Varun Aaron
Despite being one of the fastest bowlers in the country, Aaron has faced challenges in reaching his full potential due to frequent injuries, including stress fractures in his back and legs. However, despite these setbacks, the pace bowler gained recognition for his impressive performance in the 2010-11 Vijay Hazare Trophy final, where he delivered a ball at 153kmph. He has taken a total of 173 wickets in 66 first-class matches, maintaining an average of 33.27.
"This might be my last game in front of my family and the people of Jamshedpur, because we don't often play white-ball games here (Keenan Stadium).
"I had started my career here, so this is quite emotional for me," Aaron, who wrapped his red-ball career with a match haul of five wickets, was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
Faiz Fazal
Vidarbha's Ranji Trophy-winning captain Fazal has decided to retire after serving Vidarbha for 21 years. The stylish opener famously led them to their first-ever Ranji Trophy title in 2018 and was the team's top run-scorer that season.
Fazal made a memorable debut in first-class cricket, scoring 151 runs in a Plate Group match against Jammu and Kashmir in December 2003. Since then, he has been a mainstay at the top of the Vidarbha batting order, known for his flawless technique.
Throughout his career, the left-hander amassed 9183 runs in first-class cricket, 3641 runs in List A matches, and 1273 runs in T20s and retires as Vidarbha's highest run-scorer in both List A cricket and first-class cricket.
Despite playing only one ODI for India in 2016 against Zimbabwe, where he scored an unbeaten 55, the 38-year-old never earned another selection for the national team.
Dhawal Kulkarni
Renowned for his ability to swing the ball, and maintain accuracy, Mumbai's stalwart Kulkarni quickly emerged as one of the most dependable seam bowlers in domestic cricket.
A player who thrives in big matches, Kulkarni delivered several outstanding performances throughout his 17-year domestic career, including taking five-wicket hauls in three Ranji Trophy finals.
Kulkarni's experience is deemed so crucial to the team that the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) asked the medium-pacer to delay his retirement until the end of the season. The 35-year-old has participated in 95 First-Class matches and claimed 281 wickets at an average of 27.31.
For Aaron, Manoj, and Faiz, their journey came to a full circle as they bid farewell at the very venue where they started their domestic careers.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by PTI)
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