New Delhi, June 4: Former Indian wicketkeeper and chief selector MSK Prasad revealed on Thursday that he attempted to persuade KS Bharat to reconsider his decision to retire from international cricket. However, the Andhra Pradesh player had made up his mind. Prasad described the decision as shocking and unfortunate.
In an unexpected turn of events on Thursday evening, the 32-year-old KS Bharat announced his retirement from international cricket. Bharat was first called up to the Indian team in November 2019, but he made his Test debut in February 2023 while Rishabh Pant was recovering from a serious car accident.
In an exclusive interview, Prasad stated, “I was aware of this situation, as it was extremely surprising for me. I tried to talk to him, but he clearly said he wanted to move on. I have seen him grow since the under-13 level, so when he shared this decision, I was genuinely shocked. But now, what can be done? It is quite unfortunate.”
He further added, “In fact, I also retired at the age of 31, but Bharat has made his choice. Perhaps he feels it is time to move on and may want to focus on something else. I made every effort to convince him and spoke with him, but he was firm in his decision.”
Bharat is also remembered for stepping in as a wicketkeeper during the Kanpur Test against New Zealand in 2021 when Wriddhiman Saha suffered neck stiffness. In that match, he took two catches and executed one stumping. However, due to a lack of consistency in wicketkeeping and batting, he did not regain his place in the Indian Test team after playing the second Test against England in February 2024 at his home ground in Visakhapatnam.
Bharat played seven Test matches, including the ICC World Test Championship Final in 2023, scoring 223 runs at an average of 20.09, with a highest score of 44. Additionally, he scored 199 runs in 10 matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
Prasad remarked, “I believe he still had the potential to make a comeback. He was an excellent wicketkeeper, no doubt about it. His hands were very safe, and he was also a good batsman, as I have seen him progress since the under-13 level. But now he has other thoughts, and we must respect his decision.”
Meanwhile, speculation has arisen on social media that Bharat might represent the UAE in the future. Reports claimed he was seen training with the UAE team during some sessions last month.
However, sources clarified that there is no truth to these speculations. They acknowledged that Bharat was in Dubai and participated in some training sessions with the UAE national team, but nothing more than that.
It is important to note that according to International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, if a player wishes to play international cricket for another country, they must fulfill the citizenship or residency eligibility requirements of that country. Additionally, they must complete a mandatory cooling-off period of three years from the date of their last international match for their previous country.
Earlier, former Uttar Pradesh batsman Akshdeep Nath made his debut for the UAE in the ICC Cricket World Cup League-2 matches held in Nepal this year after acquiring UAE citizenship following his relocation from Lucknow to Dubai last year.
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