Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik on Saturday (June 1) officially announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

The writing was on the wall as Karthik was given a guard of honour by his RCB teammates in the IPL 2024 Eliminator match against RR last month.

“Having given it plenty of thought for some time now, I have decided to move on from playing representative cricket. I officially announce my retirement and put my playing days behind me as I square up for the new challenges that lie ahead,” Karthik wrote in a social media statement.

“I'd like to thank all my coaches, captains, selectors, teammates and members of the support staff who have made this long journey enjoyable. Among millions that play the sport in our country, I consider myself one of the luckiest to have had the chance to represent my country,” he added.

Dinesh Karthik made a notable mark while playing for India even though his peak clashed with the legendary MS Dhoni. He represented the country in 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 60 T20Is, amassing 3463 runs across formats with one hundred and 17 half-centuries. He was also part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy triumphs.

Karthik’s IPL journey, which started in the inaugural 2008 edition itself, included stints with six different franchises, showcasing his adaptability and commitment. Starting with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), he later played for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Mumbai Indians, now-defunct Gujarat Lions, Kolkata Knight Riders and RCB.

Overall, Karthik made 257 appearances in IPL, scoring 4842 runs at an average of 26.32 and a strike rate of 135.36.

The 39-year-old has been involved in cricket broadcast shows and commentary in recent years, and is expected to resume after calling it quits.