Hrishikesh Kanitkar announces retirement

Kanitkar hasn’t played a first class match for 18 months now

Former Indian batsman Hrishikesh Kanitkar has announced his retirement from all forms of Cricket. The veteran informed the BCCI regarding his decision on Wednesday. The 40-year old left-hander has not featured in a first class match since December 2013 where he scored a 50 against Tamil Nadu representing Rajasthan at the Chepauk.

"The passion for batting was still there but the motivation to be on the ground fielding for long stretches of time, even in a match, didn't really exist," Kanitkar told ESPNcricinfo. "I didn't want fielding to be a formality. If I am not able to give as much as a youngster is giving in the field, then I shouldn't be pushing myself for a place in a side, so I took the call."

Kanitkar has finished his Ranji career with more than 8000 runs (only two other batsmen have achieved the feat) to his name. Also, his tally of 28 centuries is the third joint highest in the tournament’s history. No other captain has won the Elite and Plate league titles.

He has spent the last couple of years trying to attain the fitness levels that are required to play first class cricket, but unfortunately couldn’t. Rajasthan, who were his third team after Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh won back-to-back titles under his leadership.

He has revealed that he would like to be associated with the game in a coaching role post his retirement. "Coaching is something I am very keen on. If I get an opportunity to work with teams, it would be a great learning experience. I will also be keen to work as a cricket analyst in the media. These are the two things are on my agenda. It's like after being a doctor for twenty years, you want to be a consultant after that. You can't just turn the back on something that you have loved all your life. I have had a great time. So many ups and down, but ups have been more than downs. I would like to especially thank the BCCI and all the state associations I played for - my home state Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. It's been a great life so far as a player. I am sure it will transform into a great life as a coach, as a commentator - whatever comes along," he revealed to ESPNcricinfo.

Kanitkar played 34 ODIs and two Test matches for India and has always been remembered by the fans around the nation for his four off Saqlain Mushtaq which helped India win the Independence Cup in 1998.

Here’s a clip of the famous last over: