Ashok Dinda announces retirement from all formats of cricket

India’s right-arm quick Ashok Dinda has decided to hang his boots after a successful stint in the domestic circuit for the past one and half a decade in the gentleman’s game as he announced his retirement from all the formats of the game. Though the seamer didn’t fetch desired limelight in the international circuit or while featuring in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he has some stunning numbers to his name in domestic cricket.

Dinda was Bengal’s second most successful bowler after Utpal Chatterjee, with 420 first-class wickets in just 116 fixtures. The pacer also boasts of having 151 and 146 scalps in 98 List-A games and 144 T20s, respectively. However, last year he had a feud with the coaching staff of Bengal and had decided to move to Goa.

The Mona-born had announced himself on the big stage during a T20I against Sri Lanka in Nagpur in 2009 under the leadership of MS Dhoni. He didn’t have an ideal debut as he finished with the figures of 1/34 from three overs. He made his ODI debut five months later against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, where he went wicketless for 49 runs in 7.2 overs.

I thank the BCCI for giving me an opportunity to play for India: Ashok Dinda

Dinda featured in 13 One Day Internationals and 9 T20Is for India scalping 12 and 17 wickets respectively at an economy of 6.18 and 8.16 respectively. In the IPL, he represented teams like Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Royal Challengers Bangalore, and the now-defunct Pune Warriors and Rising Pune Supergiant. He played 78 IPL matches across 10 editions and picked up 68 wickets at an economy rate of 8.20.

While announcing his retirement, Dinda interacted with the media in Kolkata and thanked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) along with senior players like Deep Dasgupta and Rohan Gavaskar for always being there for him and helping him in improving his game.

“Playing for India is everybody’s aim, I played for Bengal that’s why I got the chance to represent India. I thank the BCCI for giving me an opportunity to play for India. Senior players like Deep Das Gupta, Rohan Gavaskar guided me when I played for Bengal. I got the support every time I picked a wicket,” Dinda said as quoted by Hindustan Times.