Praveen Kumar announces retirement from all forms of the game

Indian cricketer Praveen Kumar has decided to call it quits from all the forms of the game with immediate effect. He will not be featuring in the upcoming for Ranji Trophy season for Uttar Pradesh and wants to allow the youngsters to stake their claim in the side. Kumar was a vital cog of the Indian team a few years ago and has witnessed several memorable victories when he was at the peak of his career.

The 32-year-old last played for Team India in March 2012 in a T20 International and was then sidelined due to the injury only not to be considered ever again. However, during his 13 years of competitive cricket, Praveen Kumar featured in 66 first-class and 139 List A matches. He played 68 ODIs, 6 Tests and 10 T20 Internationals for his country and was a reliable swing bowler during his career. He ended his career with 112 international wickets to his name.

I have no regrets

Praveen Kumar will continue to play company cricket for ONGC and have no regrets whatsoever for the way his career panned out. Moreover, he wanted to make way for the youngsters and didn’t want their careers to be affected because of him.

“I have no regrets. Dil sey khela, dil sey bowling daala (I played and bowled with my heart). There are good bowlers waiting in the wings back in UP and I don’t want their careers to be affected. Mein kheloonga toh ek ka jagah jayega, (If I play, one spot would go); it’s important to think of other players’ future as well. My time is over and I have accepted it. I’m happy and thankful to God for giving me this chance,” he said while speaking to the Indian Express.

Praveen also went on to say that it was the right time to hand over the baton while also expressing his wish to become a bowling coach in the near future in order to help the budding cricketers.

“I have decided to retire from cricket. The decision is not taken in haste, I gave a thought over it and I felt it was a right time to say goodbye to the sport which gave me so much. I want to thank my family, BCCI, UPCA, Rajeev (Shukla) sir for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dreams. want to become a bowling coach. People know that I have this knowledge. I think it’s an area which I can work dil se, I can pass on this experience to the young ones,” Kumar said.

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