Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik on Saturday announced his retirement from all forms of competitive cricket, bringing an end to a distinguished career spanning two decades. Although his retirement seemed imminent following Royal Challengers Bangalore’s exit from the IPL Eliminator, Karthik chose to make his decision public on his 39th birthday.
“Having given plenty of thought for sometime now, I have decided to move on from playing competitive cricket. I officially announce my retirement and put my playing days behind me as I square up for the new challenges that lie ahead,” Karthik shared on 'X'.
Karthik, who represented India in 180 matches across three formats, scored 3463 runs, including a Test century and 17 half-centuries. He also managed 172 dismissals, mostly as a wicket-keeper, though there were some in the outfield.
For long, Karthik was remembered for the fabulous airborne stumping of Michael Vaughan in England under the leadership of Sourav Ganguly in 2004, and his last game for India was the 2022 T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma's leadership.
Throughout his career, he also played under the leadership of Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Virat Kohli.
“I’d like to thank all my coaches, captains, selectors and members of the support staff, who have made this long journey pleasant and enjoyable,” he wrote.
