Spinner KC Cariappa announces retirement from Indian cricket

Indian leg-spinner KC Cariappa has officially announced his retirement from Indian cricket. The 31-year-old confirmed his decision through an emotional social media post, reflecting on his journey that began on the streets and culminated in professional cricket.

Cariappa’s announcement records the end of his association with BCCI cricket, though he spoke about his love for the game remaining the same. In his farewell note, the leg-spinner wrote about the joy, pain, pressure, and pride that defined his career. He expressed gratitude to the Karnataka State Cricket Association for guiding him as a cricketer and to the Cricket Association of Mizoram for backing him during a crucial phase of his domestic career.

"From the streets where it all began.  to stadium lights and wearing the jersey with pride - I lived the dream I once only imagined. Today, I KC CARIAPPA. officially announce my retirement from BCCI cricket. Cariappa, who played for Mizoram and Karnataka in the domestic circuit, reflected on his journey. This journey gave me everything - victories that made me smile, defeats that broke me, and lessons that shaped me. I've felt pressure, pain, sacrifice, but also the kind of joy only cricket can give. I owe my deepest gratitude to Karnataka State Cricket Association - for building me, guiding me, and believing in me when it mattered the most. And to Cricket Association of Mizoram - thank you for trusting me, standing by me, and supporting me like family," Carippa wrote in his Instagram post.

KKR signed Cariappa for INR 2.4 crore in IPL 2015

Cariappa came up the ranks as a mystery leg-spinner known for his variations, including the googly, carrom ball, and the rare ability to bowl off-spin without altering his grip. His breakthrough came during the Karnataka Premier League, which put him on the radar of IPL scouts.

In the 2015 IPL auction, Kolkata Knight Riders signed Cariappa for INR 2.4 crore despite him having no senior-level domestic experience. He made his IPL debut against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and dismissed AB de Villiers. However, opportunities were limited, and he was released soon after.

Cariappa later represented Kings XI Punjab between 2017 and 2018, returned to KKR in 2019, and was part of the Rajasthan Royals setup from 2021 to 2023. Across 11 IPL matches, he picked up eight wickets at an economy rate of 9.66. In 14 First-Class matches, he claimed 75 wickets at an average of 23.20, including five five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket match performances. In List A cricket, he took 24 wickets from 20 matches, while in T20s, he finished with 58 wickets at an average of 24.62 and an economy rate of 6.60. He also scored over 1,000 runs across formats.