Fast bowler S. Sreesanth, the two-time World Cup winner with India, announced his retirement from Indian cricket last week. Known for his aggression in bowling and attitude, Sreesanth represented India in 27 Tests, 53 ODIs and 10 T20Is between 2005 and 2011, snapping up 169 wickets.
Legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who Sreesanth shared the dressing room with the Test team and also during the 2011 World Cup, wrote a wholehearted message for the recently retired pacer.
Sachin Tendulkar took to his Instagram for congratulating Sreesanth on his success with the national side. He hailed the Kerala speedster as a highly skilful and talented fast bowler.
“Always rated you as a talented bowler with a lot of skills. Congratulations @sreesanthnair36, on representing India over the years. All the very best for your 2nd innings,” Tendulkar wrote on his Instagram post sharing a picture of himself with Sreesanth.
Sreesanth announced his retirement from domestic cricket in India through a series of tweets and said that making space for youngsters is the key reason for his decision. The 39-year-old remains open to taking up coaching roles and also plying his trade in overseas leagues as now he’s retired from Indian cricket.
“Thank you for supporting me, especially on my comeback to domestic cricket. I am retiring from first-class, all forms of cricket in domestic cricket. Looking forward to being part of maybe a coaching set-up to help the youngsters. If possible, play leagues across the globe once the BCCI gives me permission,” Sreesanth said in a video message on Twitter.
“I am completely fit but one of the reasons (for retiring) is the youngsters. I got an opportunity to play for my state and my country when another personality retired. I am very confident that Kerala cricket and Indian cricket is in the right hands,” he added.
His last international match was a Test match at the Oval in August 2011 before he landed in controversial waters in 2013 when he was alleged to have spot-fixed during the IPL season that year. He was handed a life ban by the BCCI but was then acquitted of all charges in 2015 by a special court, after which the Kerala High Court quashed his life ban in 2018.
Later, the Supreme Court recommended the BCCI reduce the punishment term which was then brought down to 7 years which ended in September 2020, and he made his domestic return for Kerala. Sreesanth last featured for Kerala in the Ranji game against Meghalaya last month. He had also entered his name for the IPL 2022 mega-auction but wasn’t auctioned.
