From MS Dhoni to Yuvraj Singh: 5 Indian cricketers who retired without a farewell match

First Published Dec 8, 2020, 11:57 AM IST

Any top cricketer from the world deserves to finish his career on a high, and in order to mark respect to his illustrious career, most are given a farewell match. Nonetheless, there have been numerous top cricketers who had to call time on their career, without a parting game.

<p>Every cricketer, especially the ones who have had a legendary career, deserve to finish their career on a high. And, the best way to pay them the respects is by handing them a farewell match at the time they are to draw curtains on their illustrious career.</p>

Every cricketer, especially the ones who have had a legendary career, deserve to finish their career on a high. And, the best way to pay them the respects is by handing them a farewell match at the time they are to draw curtains on their illustrious career.

<p>Although it is a tradition that is followed by numerous cricketing countries, there are some top cricketers, who are unlucky enough not to get the same. As a result, we take a look at five of the Indian cricketers who had to go through the wretched fate.</p>

Although it is a tradition that is followed by numerous cricketing countries, there are some top cricketers, who are unlucky enough not to get the same. As a result, we take a look at five of the Indian cricketers who had to go through the wretched fate.

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Zaheer Khan:</strong> The lanky Indian pacer had an illustrious career for India, across formats. While he claimed more than 300 wickets in the longest format, he did claim around 300 in the limited-overs too, besides helping India win the 2011 ICC World Cup. He was also the one to introduce the knuckleball, as, after a prolific career, he retired in 2015, without a farewell game, before being appointed as Team India's bowling consultant for a brief time, in 2017.</p>

Zaheer Khan: The lanky Indian pacer had an illustrious career for India, across formats. While he claimed more than 300 wickets in the longest format, he did claim around 300 in the limited-overs too, besides helping India win the 2011 ICC World Cup. He was also the one to introduce the knuckleball, as, after a prolific career, he retired in 2015, without a farewell game, before being appointed as Team India's bowling consultant for a brief time, in 2017.

<p><strong>Virender Sehwag:</strong> The swashbuckling Indian opener, who terrorised any bowling attack, is one of the most prolific run-scorers for India. He was famous for hitting boundaries off the very first ball. As for his Test records, he has two triple centuries to his name, along with four doubles, while he also scored a double century in ODIs. After leading India to the 2011 CWC win, he slowly faded out, as he retired from the sport in 2015, and that too without a proper farewell game.</p>

Virender Sehwag: The swashbuckling Indian opener, who terrorised any bowling attack, is one of the most prolific run-scorers for India. He was famous for hitting boundaries off the very first ball. As for his Test records, he has two triple centuries to his name, along with four doubles, while he also scored a double century in ODIs. After leading India to the 2011 CWC win, he slowly faded out, as he retired from the sport in 2015, and that too without a proper farewell game.

<p><strong>Gautam Gambhir: </strong>When it comes to Gautam Gambhir, he is famous for his knock of 97 in the 2011 CWC final, which was undoubtedly the most significant moment that allowed India to lift the title. Yet, for some reasons, it has been ignored. Nonetheless, he is extremely famous for his gameplay across formats, while he has also been recognised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on a couple of occasions. Although he played his last ODI in 2013, he was snubbed thereon, as he retired from the sport to everyone's surprise, without any farewell match.</p>

Gautam Gambhir: When it comes to Gautam Gambhir, he is famous for his knock of 97 in the 2011 CWC final, which was undoubtedly the most significant moment that allowed India to lift the title. Yet, for some reasons, it has been ignored. Nonetheless, he is extremely famous for his gameplay across formats, while he has also been recognised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on a couple of occasions. Although he played his last ODI in 2013, he was snubbed thereon, as he retired from the sport to everyone's surprise, without any farewell match.

<p><strong>Yuvraj Singh: </strong>Another explosive Indian batsman who needs no introduction. From helping India win the 2002 Natwest ODI series in England to hitting six sixes in an over during the 2007 ICC World T20, he even helped India win the 2011 CWC. The southpaw even battled cancer to make a comeback to the sport in 2012. However, since Team India was going through a transition phase, he could barely find a spot in the side, in the coming days. It was in 2019 when he finally decided to quit the sport, while surprisingly, he was not awarded a farewell game.</p>

Yuvraj Singh: Another explosive Indian batsman who needs no introduction. From helping India win the 2002 Natwest ODI series in England to hitting six sixes in an over during the 2007 ICC World T20, he even helped India win the 2011 CWC. The southpaw even battled cancer to make a comeback to the sport in 2012. However, since Team India was going through a transition phase, he could barely find a spot in the side, in the coming days. It was in 2019 when he finally decided to quit the sport, while surprisingly, he was not awarded a farewell game.

<p><strong>MS Dhoni:</strong> The legendary Indian skipper barely needs any introduction to the world. From helping India win three ICC tournaments, to leading the side to become the number one Test teams, Dhoni's contributions to Indian cricket would forever remain priceless. While he was never snubbed from the side, he was conspicuous by his absence following the 2019 CWC. Although he would have been back, the prevailing pandemic played spoilsport, as he eventually decided to retire, without playing a proper farewell game for the side.</p>

MS Dhoni: The legendary Indian skipper barely needs any introduction to the world. From helping India win three ICC tournaments, to leading the side to become the number one Test teams, Dhoni's contributions to Indian cricket would forever remain priceless. While he was never snubbed from the side, he was conspicuous by his absence following the 2019 CWC. Although he would have been back, the prevailing pandemic played spoilsport, as he eventually decided to retire, without playing a proper farewell game for the side.