3 Veteran Indian Players Who Might Retire After IPL 2023: Whether it was Sachin Tendulkar, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Lasith Malinga, Virender Sehwag, Kieron Pollard, Shane Watson or Dwayne Bravo, no amount of fitness and passion can lead a player to counter the natural aging process. At one point, everyone has to bid adieu to professional sport, and the IPL that was glittered by the presence of these superstars.
Almost every IPL season marks the end of the journey for a great player, Indian or overseas. The Indian Premier League 2023 will also prove to be no different. In fact, some of the retirements seem imminent after the ongoing IPL 2023 tournament.
Here are 3 veteran Indian cricketers who might be playing their last IPL season and could retire after IPL 2023:
MS Dhoni
For the past couple of years, MS Dhoni has been defying the laws of aging and has leveled up his fitness standards – he is playing in the Indian Premier League 2023 with a knee injury and has been spotted with a heavy knee strap. However, there is a general feeling that the Indian Premier League 2023 could, finally, well be the last tournament for the CSK captain.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, already the oldest player to have featured in the IPL, will turn 42 in July this year. There seems an unlikely case for Thala to turn up next season in 2024, on the verge of turning 43. Especially being a wicket-keeper.
Amit Mishra
Aged over 40, Amit Mishra is currently the second-oldest in this year’s competition after Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Mishra had gone unsold in the IPL 2022 auction but returned to the Indian Premier League 2023 after LSG bought him.
The Impact Player rule has helped Mishra a lot. He can sit out while after completing his overs and has rarely been needed to bat. He has been getting playing time this season because the black soil pitch in Lucknow has been assisting the spinners. He’s taken 7 wickets in 7 matches at an economy of less than 8. However, this might just be the last IPL season for Mishra, which would allow him to play in the Legend tournaments and other leagues.
Ambati Rayudu
Ambati Rayudu could bid adieu to the IPL after the ongoing Indian Premier League 2023 season, or he might even announce retirement before the tournament ends. For, Rayudu’s form has been abysmal this season: he’s scored 122 runs at an average of only 15 and strike rate of 127 with a highest score of 27*. Rayudu will be 38 in September this year and his fitness also hasn’t been tested this season as he’s been used as Impact Player.
