Former India pacer Praveen Kumar announces retirement
Kumar, a medium pacer with the ability to move the ball both ways, played 84 international games for India after making his debut in a one-day international against Pakistan in November 2007. Overall, he picked up 112 wickets, including 27 in six Tests.
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Average | Best | ER | SR |
| Tests | 6 | 27 | 25.81 | 5/106 (Match: 7/169) | 2.59 | 59.6 |
| ODIs | 68 | 77 | 36.02 | 4/31 | 5.13 | 42.1 |
| T20Is | 10 | 8 | 24.12 | 2/14 | 7.42 | 19.5 |
High points in his career included playing an important role for India in their CB Series win in Australia in 2008. He picked up 10 wickets in four games, including 4/46 in the second final, when India beat Australia by nine runs.
“I can't forget the CB series which we won in Australia, probably it was the highest point in my career,” Kumar told The Indian Express.
its been a great jounery.
— praveen kumar (@praveenkumar) October 20, 2018
Its been a great life.
With a heavy heart I want to say gud bye to my 1st love #CricketMeriJaan
But the test cap no 268 nd ODI 170 will be mine till indian cricket era will continue... Thankyou @BCCI nd @UPCACricket for helping me to live up my dream.🇮🇳
In Tests, he was India’s highest wicket-taker on the tour of England in 2011, which India lost 4-0. He ended with 15 wickets, including 5/106 in the first Test at Lord’s – his only five-for in the longest format.
“I have no regrets,” he said, adding that the decision to hang up his boots so early is mainly to avoid taking away a spot for a younger player in Uttar Pradesh, the team he represented in domestic cricket from 2005 to 2017.
Praveen Kumar calls it a day....admired the control he had on making the ball swing. Ball listened his master’s commands. Go well brother...have a fruitful second innings. 😊🙌 @praveenkumar
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 20, 2018
“My time is over and I have accepted it. I'm happy and thankful to god for giving me this chance.”
Kumar, also a handy lower-order hitter, turned out for four teams in the Indian Premier League, even bagging a hat-trick for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Rajasthan Royals in the 2010 edition of the tournament.
His last appearance for India was in a T20 International against South Africa in Johannesburg in March 2012, and the final competitive game was for Uttar Pradesh against Baroda in January 2018 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament – he conceded 45 runs in his three overs and didn’t get a chance to bat as his team won by seven wickets.
The future is coaching, he said: “I want to become a bowling coach. People know that I have this knowledge. I can pass on this experience to the young ones.”