[Exclusive] Dhawal Kulkarni explains why he retired from IPL

Dhawal Kulkarni is currently playing for India Capitals in the Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2024. On the sidelines of the exciting franchise tournament, Kulkarni explained his decision to retire from the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this year.

Kulkarni finished his domestic career on a high as he helped Mumbai beat Vidarbha in the finals of the Ranji Trophy. This was Mumbai's record-extending 42nd Ranji Trophy triumph. At the time of his retirement, many felt that the right-arm seamer could have continued for at least another season. However, Kulkarni lauded the talent in the pace-bowling department in the Mumbai circuit and said that his retirement would allow a youngster to play in the team.

Also Read: LLC is good platform for retired players to stay connected with cricket: Dhawal Kulkarni

"It's not about not getting chances. If I've been playing cricket for 18 years, it's not that opportunities weren’t coming my way. Mumbai’s cricket team had many talented youngsters who were getting their chances. I felt that by stepping aside, I could open doors for them. There’s a lot of talent in Mumbai cricket, and I believe the next generation deserves a fair opportunity. That was the main reason behind my decision to retire from IPL," Kulkarni said while explaining his decision to retire during an exclusive interview with CricTracker.

A look at Dhawal Kulkarni's career in numbers

The 35-year-old played 96 first-class, 130 List A, and 162 T20s in his illustrious career. He finished with 285, 223, and 154 wickets in the three formats, respectively. Kulkarni also played 12 ODIs and two T20Is for India and took 19 and three wickets, respectively. He was also a part of IPL teams like Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, and Gujarat Lions. He played 92 matches in the cash-rich league and scalped 86 wickets.

Also Check: Watch: Shikhar Dhawan entertains fans with singing skills during LLC 2024

So far in LLC 2024, Kulkarni has accounted for five wickets from three matches. India Capitals, led by Ian Bell, have won two games and lost as many. They are in contention for a spot in the playoffs. A win in their final league match against Manipal Tigers will help them in securing qualification.