Jharkhand player announces retirement from all form of cricket
‘Muralithran the toughest bowler I faced in my career’
Jamshedpur, Feb 12: Jharkhand cricketer Saurabh Tiwary has officially announced his retirement from both international and first-class cricket, concluding a career that spanned across all formats. The 34-year-old, who has been grappling with knee issues, disclosed his decision following his participation in the Ranji Trophy for Jharkhand.
Tiwary, who donned the Indian colors in three One Day Internationals in 2010 while representing Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy, declared that his farewell match will be against Rajasthan in the ongoing Ranji season, commencing on February 15.
Expressing his sentiments after Jharkhand’s defeat to Haryana, Tiwary remarked, “I have been a boy who started playing cricket before schooling. Bidding farewell to such a lengthy journey is somewhat challenging today, but I am aware that the decision is absolutely right at this time. If you can’t be a part of the national team or the IPL, then it’s better to pave the way for young players in the state team. Our state team is offering ample opportunities to youngsters, justifying my decision.”
Addressing the media at Keenan Stadium in Jamshedpur on Monday, Saurabh Tiwary said, “I would have liked to be called a Test cricketer as red-ball cricket is the ultimate test for a cricketer. But overall, I’m satisfied with my career and have achieved a lot.”
Reflecting on his future plans, Tiwary stated, “People often ask what I will do next, but the answer is simple – cricket is the only thing I know, so I will continue to work in that field. While I have received offers to enter politics, I haven’t considered it. The best moment of my cricket career came during the Under-15 days when my father Sunil Tiwary lifted me up, and I scored my first century.”
Commencing his first-class cricket journey in 2006 from Jamshedpur, Tiwary played a pivotal role in India’s Under-19 team led by Virat Kohli in the 2007-08 Under-19 World Cup. After impressive domestic performances, he joined the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2010, securing the Emerging Player of the Tournament award.
He emphasized the need for more facilities and infrastructure development not only in Jamshedpur but throughout Jharkhand to nurture aspiring cricketers for the national team.
In the 2010-11 season, Tiwary’s contributions were instrumental in Jharkhand winning the Vijay Hazare Trophy in domestic cricket. Despite limited opportunities in the Indian team, he played three ODIs for India in 2010 against Australia and New Zealand.
Tiwary continued to make an impact in the IPL, representing various teams such as Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rising Pune Supergiants, and Delhi Daredevils. He accumulated a total of 1494 runs in 93 IPL matches, with an average of 28.73 and a strike rate of 120.10.
In his domestic cricket feat, Tiwary captained Jharkhand to the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy in the 2016-17 season. He recently surpassed 8000 runs in first-class cricket, amassing a combined total of 15,534 runs in senior cricket across formats, including 28 centuries and 77 half-centuries.
