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A significant chapter in international cricket history has drawn to a close as the legendary player for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has officially announced his retirement.
A glittering international career
One of its most enigmatic spin bowlers in the cricketing history Sunil Narine decided to bid farewell to international cricket on Sunday. The West Indies legend, known for his unorthodox spin and mystery deliveries, has had an illustrious career that spanned across all formats of the game.
Narine’s international career has been nothing short of spectacular. He represented the West Indies in 6 Test matches, 65 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 51 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). His significant contributions to the team were instrumental in the West Indies’ victory in the T20 World Cup in 2012.
His last appearance for the West Indies senior national team was in 2019, in T20I cricket. He had previously played his last Test in 2013 and his final ODI in 2016. During his international career, he managed to claim a total of 165 wickets, underlining his remarkable prowess with the ball.
The farewell announcement
In a heartfelt announcement made on Instagram, Narine expressed his gratitude and shared his retirement plans. He mentioned that he would also be stepping away from domestic 50-over competition at the conclusion of the ongoing Super 50 Cup, where he currently represents Trinidad and Tobago.
“I appreciate it has been over 4 years since I last played for West Indies, but today I am announcing my retirement from international cricket. I would like to acknowledge and thank Cricket West Indies, the coaching staff, passionate West Indies fans, and of course, my teammates who enabled me to play at the highest level, in all formats, and with some memorable successes,” Narine wrote on Instagram.
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Future plans in franchise cricket
Narine leaves behind an impressive legacy in West Indies cricket. He claimed 92 wickets in 65 ODI matches and 48 wickets in 51 T20 International matches. In Test cricket, he played six matches and took 21 wickets, with his best figures being 6/91.
While his international journey may have come to an end, Narine assured fans that he would continue to be an active participant in franchise-based T20 leagues around the world. He stated, “Needless to say, outside of this, it will continue to be business as usual for me in the franchise world for the foreseeable future.”
A fitting send-off
Narine also expressed his love for representing Trinidad & Tobago, the country of his birth, and expressed his desire to end his domestic 50-over career on a high note by winning the ongoing Super50 Cup.
“I am also taking this opportunity to bow out of domestic 50 over cricket. I love representing Trinidad & Tobago, the country of my birth, and to add another title by winning this current Super50 Cup will be the perfect send off,” he added.
“Needless to say, outside of this, it will continue to be business as usual for me in the franchise world for the foreseeable future,” he added.
