India spinner retires with immediate effect

India

Former India spinner Murali Kartik has retired from all forms of the game with immediate effect at the age of 37, he announced on Saturday, nearly 20 years after making his first class debut.

Former India spinner Murali Kartik has retired from all forms of the game with immediate effect at the age of 37, he announced on Saturday, nearly 20 years after making his first class debut.

He made his professional debut in 1996, but had to wait until 2000 for his first Test cap. He got eight in total, but had to contend with being around at the same time as Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, and thus didn't play as many as he'd have liked.

He also played 37 one-dayers, the last of which came in 2007, and one T20, also in that year. He then spent time playing for Surrey, Bengal and the Railways side, and his most recent matches were for the Kings XI Punjab in the IPL.

His statement read: "I have decided to hang up my boots from all forms of competitive cricket but will honour my commitments for Kings XI Punjab during this year's Champions League T20.

"I want to thank everyone for their support and felt that it is the right time to go. I have enjoyed playing this game and it has given me a lot.

"I would like to thank my parents and wife Shweta for their support, my coaches MP Singh, Gurcharan Singh and the greatest motivator of all Bishan Singh Bedi. Not to forget the influence that Maninder Singh had on my career.

"I would like to thank N Srinivasan sir and Kasi sir (Kashi Viswanthan) for giving a chance to play Buchi Babu as a teenager for Vijay Sports Club. My first captain VB Chandrasekhar who gave me a lot of confidence."

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