Barinder Sran retires from cricket
Published - 29 Aug 2024, 08:07 PM | Updated - 30 Aug 2024, 11:16 AM
On Thursday, August 29, the 31-year-old India National Cricket Team left-arm pacer Barinder Sran announced his retirement from all forms of cricket via Instagram.
Barinder Sran was a talented left-arm seamer who quit boxing to take up cricket. He wasn't among the fastest pacers but the legendary Yuvraj Singh saw something special in him and once stated that Sran reminded him of a young Zaheer Khan.
Looking at Sran's talent, the BCCI selectors picked him in the ODI squad for the Australia tour in 2016 despite the pacer having the experience of just 8 List-A matches.
He made his ODI debut on January 12 under MS Dhoni's captaincy and shined with a 3-wicket haul. Overall, he featured in 6 ODIs for India and picked up 7 wickets at an average of 38.42 and an economy of 5.34.
Also, Barinder Sran made his T20I debut on June 20, 2016, against Zimbabwe in Harare and registered sensational bowling figures of 4/10. He played just one more T20I match for India in which he picked 2 wickets.
His last ODI appearance for India came on June 15, 2016, while his last T20I match was on June 22, 2016. After that, he wasn't considered for selection and never donned the India jersey again.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, he took to Instagram to announce his retirement from cricket and look back on his journey. He stated:
"As I officially hang up my cricket boots, I look back at my journey with a heart full of gratitude. Since switching from boxing in 2009, cricket has gifted me innumerable and incredible experiences. Fast bowling soon became my lucky charm and opened doors to represent prestigious IPL franchises, ultimately culminating in the highest honor of representing India in 2016.
Even though my international career was brief, the memories created will be forever cherished - Barinder Sran
Sran further wrote that even though his international career stint wasn't a long one, the memories created through it will last forever. He elaborated:
"Even though my international career was brief, the memories created will be forever cherished. I am eternally grateful to the almighty for getting me the right coaches and management, who have supported me throughout my journey.
"As I embark on this new chapter, I carry immense gratitude for the opportunities that cricket has afforded me. Lastly as the saying goes, "Just like the sky, dreams have no limits", so keep dreaming."
View this post on Instagram
Barinder Sran also played for Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in the Indian Premier League. He was also the net bowler for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League.
Overall, he bagged 18 wickets in 24 IPL matches at an average of 42.05, an economy of 9.40, and a strike rate of 26.8.
He was last seen playing a competitive cricket match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Punjab against Madhya Pradesh on February 28, 2021. In that game, he scored 24 runs and bagged one wicket for 91 runs.
