New Delhi, June 4: Wicketkeeper-batsman KS Bharat has announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 32. Bharat played seven Test matches for Team India between 2023 and 2024 and played a significant role in domestic cricket for Andhra.
In his retirement announcement on Instagram, Bharat expressed, “With a proud heart and a sense of gratitude, I declare my retirement from international cricket. Playing for my country has been the greatest honor of my life. This journey required immense patience and strength, but representing India in Test matches has been worth every moment. In our family of four, we all lived the same dream for two decades; I am deeply thankful to my sister, mother, and father for creating such a supportive environment. I am a product of their love, discipline, and hard work.”
He continued, “Thank you to the BCCI and all the coaches and managers I encountered throughout my career. They supported me unconditionally and provided an excellent environment for me to play at the highest level. I also extend my gratitude to the Andhra Cricket Association, VDCA, and all officials who have supported and encouraged me since childhood. I am immensely grateful to all the groundsmen who worked hard to ensure I had the best pitches and conditions at all times. To all my teammates, thank you for the moments and achievements we shared; they greatly aided my career. Without all of you, fulfilling my dreams and playing this game for so many years would not have been possible.”
Bharat thanked his IPL debut captain, Virat Kohli, for giving him the opportunity to showcase his talent and gain recognition. He also expressed gratitude to Indian captain Rohit Sharma, under whose leadership he made his Test debut. “This experience is invaluable and cannot be expressed in words. I am also thankful to my Indian coach, Rahul Dravid, whose guidance from India-A to the national team I will never forget. It is with your support that I became a Test cricketer. Hearing our national anthem and sharing the field with the legends of this game are memories I will always cherish. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey. Cricket has given me everything in many ways. I dedicate my life to it.”
Bharat was first called up to the Indian team in November 2019 but made his Test debut in February 2023, stepping in when Rishabh Pant was sidelined due to injuries from a life-threatening car accident.
In domestic cricket, Bharat became the first wicketkeeper-batsman to score a triple century in the Ranji Trophy. He achieved this feat during the 2014/15 Ranji Trophy season, scoring 308 runs off 311 balls against Goa while playing for Andhra in Ongole. Overall, he accumulated 6,102 runs at an average of 36.53 in 113 first-class matches, along with 2,692 and 1,812 runs in List A and T20 matches, respectively.
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