Just Like Timing Your Catches To Perfection, Timed The Retirement Perfectly Mohammad Kaif, Says Virender Sehwag

Exactly 16 years after guiding India to a historic win in the Natwest Trophy final, Mohammad Kaif announced, on Friday (July 13),  announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket with immediate effect.

The former India batsman will be always remembered fondly for his match-winning knock of 87 at Lord’s. Riding on Kaif’s heroics, India had sensationally chased down 325.

? #OnThisDay in 2002…

India won the NatWest Series Final vs England at Lord's in some style!

???#LoveLords pic.twitter.com/UAv1whbh8i

— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) July 13, 2018

And Kaif chose the 16th anniversary of that monumental triumph to bring curtains on his career. Wishes poured in from all corners and his former teammate Virender Sehwag also wished him. The Twitter king, known for his witty and humorous tweets, took to the social media to wish Kaif, writing:

“Just like timing your catches to perfection, timed the retirement perfectly @MohammadKaif . 16 years to the day we conquered Lord’s and won the NatWest Trophy. Wish you a very happy and satisfying retired life.”

Just like timing your catches to perfection, timed the retirement perfectly @MohammadKaif . 16 years to the day we conquered Lord's and won the NatWest Trophy. Wish you a very happy and satisfying retired life. pic.twitter.com/Ls7rdqNvdG

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 13, 2018

Kaif represented India in 13 Tests and 125 ODIs.  His last game for India, however, came more than 12 years ago, during the tour of South Africa in 2006. He scored 624 runs in Tests and 2,753 runs in ODIs.

He was also a part of the Indian team that reached the 2003 World Cup final in South Africa. Three years prior to that, he had led India to their maiden Under-19 World Cup.

When I started playing Cricket,the dream was to play in the India Cap one day.Have been very fortunate to step on to the field & represent my country on 190 days of my life. Today is an apt day for me to announce my retirement from all competetive Cricket. Thank you everyone ?? pic.twitter.com/HzKZDWgXBo

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 13, 2018

Kaif enjoyed a highly successful domestic career. He represented three teams but enjoyed the greater part of the success with his home state Uttar Pradesh, having led them to a maiden Ranji Trophy title by beating Bengal in 2005-06. One of the finest fielders to have ever played for India, Kaif finished with 10,229 runs in 186 first-class matches at an average of 38.60.

In 2014-15, he quit Uttar Pradesh to join Andhra as a professional for two seasons. In 2016-17, he led new entrants Chhattisgarh in their maiden Ranji Trophy season.