Praveen Kumar bids adieu to his 'first love', announces retirement from all forms

Kumra wants to become a bowling coach.

Praveen Kumar announces retirement from cricket | AFP

India swing bowler Praveen Kumar has announced his retirement from all forms of the game after having spent his 13 years at the competitive cricket. He last donned the national colors in 2012.

The 32-year-old Uttar Pradesh bowler now only wants to play company cricket for ONGC, as well as, revealed his desire to become a bowling coach following the latest development.

Kumar told Indian Express on Saturday (October 20), “I have decided to retire from cricket. The decision is not taken in haste, I gave a thought over it and I felt it was a right time to say goodbye to the sport which gave me so much. I want to thank my family, BCCI, UPCA, Rajeev (Shukla) sir for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dreams.”

He further added on his decision, “I have no regrets. Dil sey khela, dil sey bowling daala (I played and bowled with my heart). There are good bowlers waiting in the wings back in UP and I don’t want their careers to be affected. Mein kheloonga toh ek ka jagah jayega, (If I play, one spot would go); it’s important to think of other players’ future as well. My time is over and I have accepted it. I’m happy and thankful to god for giving me this chance.”

Praveen signed off by saying, “I want to become a bowling coach. People know that I have this knowledge. I think it’s a area which I can work dil se, I can pass on this experience to the young ones.”

Ever since he made international debut for India in 2007 against Pakistan, the Meerut-born Praveen played 84 internationals for his country. He has only managed to play six Tests for India in which he picked up 27 wickets at a healthy average of 25.81 despite his prodigious abilities to swing the ball.

For his domestic side –Uttar Pradesh, whom Kumar made his debut during their Ranji Trophy-winning season of 2005-06, took 90 wickets in his first two first-class seasons, and then played the last of his 66 First-Class games in October 2017. He finished up with 267 wickets at an average of 23.61 for the UP.

Praveen has represented Kings XI Punjab, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Lions and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League and famously claimed a hat-trick during the IPL 2010.

(Input: Indian Express)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 20 Oct, 2018

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