Indian spinner Murali Kartik retires from all formats

Murali Kartik

Former Indian left-arm spinner Murali Kartik has announced his retirement from all formats of cricket with immediate effect. Representing the 2014 runners-up Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League, he has, however, confirmed his availability for the Champions League T20 this year.

The 37-year-old from Tamil Nadu has represented India in 8 Tests, 37 One Day Internationals and one T20.

"I have decided to hang up my boots from all forms of competitive cricket but will honour my commitments for Kings XI Punjab during this year's Champions League T20. I want to thank everyone for their support and felt that it is the right time to go. I have enjoyed playing this game and it has given me a lot," Kartik said during a press conference on Saturday.

"I would like to thank my parents and wife Shweta for their support, my coaches M.P. Singh, Gurcharan Singh and the greatest motivator of all Bishan Singh Bedi. Not to forget the influence that Maninder Singh had on my career," said Kartik.

Kartik, who has proven credentials elsewhere, should consider himself unfortunate to have his career coincide with two of India’s finest spinners – Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh – a factor that played a crucial role in limiting his chances in the international arena.

Kartik also thanked N. Srinivasan for giving him his first break in competitive cricket, for India Cements.

"I would like to thank N. Srinivasan sir and Kasi sir (Kashi Viswanthan) for giving a chance to play Buchi Babu as a teenager for Vijay Sports Club. My first captain, V.B. Chandrasekhar, who gave me a lot of confidence," he said.

Making his first-class debut in 1996, for Railways, he got his first big break in the year 2000, when he represented India in a Test match against South Africa. He picked up 3 wickets in a lost cause. National caps were few and far between in the next seven years that followed, before he found himself completely out of the Indian selectors’ radar from 2007. He last played for India in an ODI in 2007, against Pakistan.

The year 2004 was the most fruitful in his short-lived international career, where, making a comeback, he produced match-winning efforts in Tests and ODIs, both against Australia at Mumbai. While a match haul of 7-76 helped India pull off a close finish in a low scoring encounter, his 6-27 and an unbeaten 21 in a ninth-wicket partnership with Zaheer Khan helped India return from dead in an ODI match at Wankhede.

Referring to that Test performance as the high point in his international cricket career, he said: "The Mumbai Test (match haul of 7/76) where I won the man-of-the-match award will always be special as we were able to restrict an Australian side chasing 103 (107). Also when Sachin presented me with my India Test cap and Kapil Paaji (then coach) presented the India hat."

Kartik was a part of the Railways side that made the Ranji Trophy finals in 2000-01 and 2001-02, producing scintillating performances in the latter – 5 for 51 and 3 for 7 with the ball and 69 with the bat in the second innings, to pave the way for their maiden Ranji crown. He has also been successful in T20 cricket, helping Middlesex win the title in 2008 and making the finals with Somerset in 2010 and 2011.

Kartik said that Mohammad Azharuddin was the best captain he had played under.

"It's got to be Azzu bhai (Mohammed Azharuddin), who would tell you that as a bowler, you should be knowing what to do rather than me telling you," he said.

A popular figure in the English county circuit, having played for the likes of Middlesex, Somerset, Surrey and Lancashire, the left-arm spinner has had a phenomenal first-class career, picking up 644 wickets in 203 matches at an average of 26.70. No mug with the bat, he has 4423 runs and 21 half-centuries to his name, as well.