Uttar Pradesh pacer Ankit Rajpoot announces retirement from Indian cricket at 31
Ankit Rajpoot, the right-arm fast-medium bowler from Uttar Pradesh, has announced his retirement from Indian cricket. However, the 31-year-old will be exploring new opportunities in the world of cricket on the business side of things, the pacer confirmed via an Instagram post on Monday, December 16.
Ankit, who made his first-class debut against Karnataka in November 2012, went on to play 80 first-class matches in which he picked up 248 wickets. In addition, he has also 71 List A and 105 T20 wickets under his belt.
The pacer was an integral part of Uttar Pradesh's 2015-16 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title-winning squad and even emerged as the pick of the bowlers in the final, having registered the figures of 3/30 against Baroda. Overall, he took 14 wickets in nine matches in Uttar Pradesh's victorious campaign.
Ankit Rajpoot still holds the second-best figures by an uncapped player in the IPL history
Ankit Rajpoot began his IPL journey in 2013 after being bought by the Chennai Super Kings at the auction for ₹50 lakh. Despite dismissing Mumbai Indians skipper Ricky Ponting on his debut in Chennai, he featured in just two matches throughout season six for the Men in Yellow.
Ankit then moved to the Kolkata Knight Riders after being bought for ₹1.5 crore ahead of the 2016 IPL where he played nine matches across two seasons in which he took seven scalps. He joined Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) for ₹3 crore ahead of season eleven.
It was with the Mohali-based franchise where Ankit Rajpoot registered the then-best figures by an uncapped player in IPL history, finishing with figures of 5/14 in an away game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The record was broken by Mumbai Indians' Akash Madhal whose 5/5 against the Lucknow Super Giants in the 2023 IPL Eliminator are now the best figures by an uncapped player in the tournament's history.
Ankit, whose last IPL appearance came up in 2020 for the Rajasthan Royals, did not get a chance to don the Lucknow Super Giants jersey despite being bought by the side ahead of IPL 2022.