Sreenath Aravind announces retirement from domestic cricket
Karnataka bowler Sreenath Aravind has announced his retirement from domestic cricket after the end of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2018 final. The 33-year-old medium pacer finished with 186 wickets from 56 first-class games, as well as 57 wickets from 41 List A matches.
The left-arm bowler was an integral part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL for a few seasons and was utilized to telling effect by Virat Kohli in the powerplays.
He played a total of 38 IPL games from 2011-2017, picking up 45 wickets at an average of 23.08.
In 2013-14 and 2014-15, he won the Ranji Trophy, the Irani Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy with the Karnataka side.
"I started my career in 2008, playing the Ranji Trophy against Saurashtra. I started against them and ending on a good note with the Vijay Hazare. I appreciate and thank the KSCA, selectors, my coaches, my parents, god and my friends whoever appreciated and supported me, I thank them all."
"Youngsters are coming up and are in and out. I have just made way so that they can create a career for themselves. They are marching into a good side. I had decided yesterday night. It was a very tough decision. I could continue for another two-three years, that was my fitness level. I just wanted to give a good chance for the youngsters who are upcoming. So I just decided on this," he was quoted as saying on Cricbuzz.
Aravind ended with only one India cap, playing his solitary T20I against South Africa in October 2015, post the World Cup, and managed to pick up only one wicket in the game.
At a base price of Rs. 50 lakh, he was unsold in the IPL 2018 auctions.
In his final game for Karnataka, the finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2018, Aravind failed to pick up a single wicket, giving away 42 runs and contributed with 13 runs from his bat.
In an interview with Sportskeeda in 2016, Aravind had admitted that he had been unlucky to miss out on a consolidated India spot, but was willing to continue trying and enjoying his game.
“I never depend on my age, it is all on the present day. I am happy. I may or may not (make it to the national team), but I am happy in the present”, he had said.
Also read: It's unlucky that I have hardly ever got a chance - Aravind