Delhi all-rounder Manan Sharma retires at 30, to move to California for better opportunities

Delhi all-rounder Manan Sharma has announced retirement from all forms of the game in India and is set to move to California in search of better opportunities. Sharma, who is the son of former Indian cricketer Ajay Sharma, has shared the dressing room with the likes of Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Gautam Gambhir. He was also a part of the Indian team during the Under-19 World Cup 2010.

Having made his debut for Delhi in 2017, he has scored 1208 runs in 35 first-class matches at an average of 27.45. This includes 1 century and 8 half-centuries. In List A cricket, he has 560 including a half-century. He has also picked up 113 first-class wickets and in 26 T20 matches, he has picked up 32 wickets at an economy rate of 6.07.

He was bought for his base price of INR 10 lakh by the Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2016.

Manan Sharma joins Unmukt Chand, Smit Patel 

Notably, once India’s Under-19 stars Smit Patel and Unmukt Chand also decided to shift their base to the USA for better opportunities, recently. Chand, the U-19 World Cup-winning captain, called it time on his career last week and subsequently signed a deal with USA’s Major Cricket League franchise Silicon Valley Strikers.

“I’m delighted to take the next step in my cricket career by being part of the long-term growth of American cricket and the launch of Major League Cricket. I’m excited to have the opportunity to play for the Strikers in Minor League Cricket starting this weekend and help grow the sport locally in the Bay Area, where I have already seen the impressive passion for the game of cricket,” said Chand as quoted majorleaguecricket.com.

After ending his cricket career in India, Chand termed it as a very tough call and that he is very emotional at the moment while taking this step.

“It’s a tough one for someone like me, who has always dreamed of playing for the country. And most of it very emotional one as well and obviously, having played every other cricket, except for the senior team, I think it was a very painful call,” said Chand.