Twitter Reactions: Lakshmipathy Balaji calls it quits on his first-class career

Former Indian pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji rose to fame for his performance in the series against Pakistan in Pakistan. The young Indian pace bowling attack that included Balaji and Irfan Pathan rattled the home team and ensured Team India won the series, their first in the neighboring soil.

He had pace in his bowling and swung the ball as well but after featuring in 8 Tests and 30 ODIs for India and picking 27 and 34 wickets respectively his bowling was no longer the same. Having dropped pace he lost his wicket-taking edge. Yesterday he announced his decision to call it quits on his first-class career having played 106 matches, he earned 330 wickets for Tamil Nadu.

He will no longer play first-class games but wishes to feature in T20 tournaments like the TNPL and IPL. “I have to move on, have a young family now. I have given it all during my 16 years as a first-class cricketer. I will be playing in the shorter forms of the game in competitions such as the TNPL and IPL,” he told The Hindu. “I want to thank the TNCA and all those cricketers and coaches who guided me.”

One of his last Test wickets was that of former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq. “It was a late outswinger, Inzamam nicked it and I would never forget that moment. We won the Test and the series, for the first time in Pakistan,” recalling the moment Balaji said.

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The right-arm seam bowler was marred by injuries and that was what made the worst impact on his career. But he said whenever he was down thought how the legend Anil Kumble who was a part of the team then would deal with the situation and then act accordingly. “I would ask myself how Kumble would deal with it. Then I would get my answer,” he remarked. “I had come back from an injury (in Mohali) and bowled with a remodelled action. I was generating good pace and took out Younis Khan with a mean one.”

Here is how Twitter reacted to Balaji’s first-class retirement decision:

I shared many beautiful memories with him one of them was in Pakistan 2004 series where crowd in Lahore chanting "Balaji Zara dheere chalo"

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 15, 2016

Har baat par Smile har koi nahi kar paata,but Laxmi ke Pati Balaji @Lbalaji55 ki Smile ka Jawaab nahi.
Feel proud BB pic.twitter.com/imuubUnaMA

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 15, 2016

One of the most loving always smiling and very skilful bowler my brother @Lbalaji55 wonderful career..wishing you happiness going forward?

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) September 15, 2016

https://twitter.com/gmohit122/status/776489888162152448

Thank u lakshmipathy balaji for entertaining us. U the one whom I used to copy ur bowling.
Hats off???

— Gaurav M jain (@gouravmjain) September 15, 2016

At one point in 2004 INDvsPAK Lakshmipathy Balaji was as famous as Sachin in Pak..His smile, his bowling, his Six of Aktar were all famous!!

— Ragul (@Ragul1207) September 15, 2016

Shahid Afridi and Lakshmipathy Balaji are both mostly retiring.
Sad to see two wonderful Leg Spinners leave.

— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) September 15, 2016

Lakshmipathy Balaji retired today. This is the saddest day of 2004.

— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) September 15, 2016

Lakshmipathy Balaji announced his retirement and shahid afridi is trending… ???

— payal ? (@chasmish_girl) September 15, 2016

I loved the way Lakshmipathy Balaji used to catch his left side of shirt while bowling thank you for wonderful memories @BCCI

— Sau'rabh_DRAVIDian (@junior_chavan) September 15, 2016

Lakshmipathy Balaji Retires From First Class Cricket.

RT If You Can't Forget His Smile & Attack Against Pakistan In 2004 ODI Series.

— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadejaaaa) September 15, 2016

Thanks Lakshmipathy Balaji for entertaining us & serving Indian cricket. Memorising 2004 test when you bowled pak batsman & stump flew to WK

— Sandeep Singh (@sandeepsingh844) September 15, 2016

Lakshmipathy Balaji has retired it seems..
People will always remember him for that famous SIX of his against Shoaib Akhtar!!

— Rakesh Khyadi (@RaaknRoll) September 15, 2016

Lakshmipathy Balaji Retires now Only Nehra Ji left we Jerks loosing our Role Models faster then we think

— Sundeep.V.PauL (@MythicalPAUL) September 15, 2016

Lakshmipathy Balaji retires from first class cricket I still remember his smile against Pakistan in 2004 ODI series..

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) September 15, 2016

Had a chat with Lakshmipathy Balaji on his international & first-class career. Such a jovial man! I was smiling throughout the conversation.

— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) September 15, 2016

Lakshmipathy Balaji, farewell, you champion. Those sixes of Shoaib Akhtar will forever remain in my memory.

— Aaditya Narayan (@Aaditya_LFC) September 15, 2016

As a kid, I copied his uber cool bowling action for years… Wishing Lakshmipathy Balaji all the best for the future.

— Swapnil Gaur (@bigtime_idiot) September 16, 2016