India wicketkeeper KS Bharat announces retirement from international cricket
He has represented India in seven Tests.
2 Min Read
Indian wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat announced his retirement from international cricket on May 4 through a post on social media. Bharat represented India in seven Test matches, scoring 221 runs at an average of 20.09, with a highest score of 44. He made his Test debut against Australia in 2023 and was a key player for Andhra in domestic cricket.
One of Bharat's most notable achievements came in 2015 when he became the first wicketkeeper-batter to score a triple century in the Ranji Trophy. The same year, he was signed by the IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils for ₹10 lakh. However, he did not feature in a match and was released ahead of the following season.
“With a proud heart and sense of gratitude, I announce my retirement from international Cricket. To play for my country has been the greatest honour of my life. This journey of mine has demanded great resilience and strength but the Honour to represent India in Tests worth every moment. In a family of four, we all lived the same dream over two decades, a big heart to my sister, mom and dad for creating an environment and support system they have been. I am a product of their love, discipline and hardwork,” wrote Bharat on Instagram.
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In 2021, Bharat was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore at the IPL auction ahead of the 2021 season. He featured in several matches and earned widespread attention for his match-winning last-ball six against Delhi Capitals. Over the course of his IPL career, he also represented Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Bharat's first five Test appearances for India came against Australia, four during the home Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and one in the World Test Championship final at The Oval. While he displayed flashes of brilliance behind the stumps, he struggled to maintain consistency. With the bat, he often got starts but failed to convert them into substantial scores. Consequently, he was dropped from the playing XI midway through India's home Test series against England in early 2024.
“My advice to young players is to dream big and work hard to achieve it. Dreams do come true with grit, discipline, hard work, and determination. If I could achieve my dream, so can you. My journey with BCCI and Test cricket may have come to an end, but my journey in the game continues. I will keep playing, contributing, and giving back to cricket by guiding, mentoring, and coaching the next generation who dream of making it big. I love India and I love cricket. Thank you for everything,” wrote Bharat.
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