Fast bowler Siddharth Kaul announced his retirement from Indian cricket on Thursday. He represented the country in three ODIs and as many T20 matches in 2018-19. 34-year-old Punjab fast bowler Kaul, who represented Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, announced his retirement on social media.
Siddharth Kaul wrote on ‘X’, “Now the time has come to end my career in India and announce my retirement.” Kaul was a member of the Indian team that won the Under-19 World Cup in 2008. Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja were also included in this team. However, he has kept the option of playing in foreign leagues open.
“I want to thank God for the path he has paved for me, the fans for their endless support, my parents and family for the sacrifices and confidence they have given me, especially during the injuries and disappointments in the dressing room,” he said. To my teammates for the memories and friendship, to the BCCI for fulfilling a little child’s dream of representing India and winning the 2008 Under-19 World Cup and making my T20 International and ODI debut in 2018 To.”
When I was a child playing cricket in the fields in Punjab, I had one dream. A dream to represent my country. In 2018, by God’s grace, I received my India Cap Number 75 in the T20i team and Cap Number 221 in the ODI team.
The time has now come to call time on my career in India… pic.twitter.com/XiNQ0NBqou
— Siddharth Kaul (@iamsidkaul) November 28, 2024
Punjab won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Let us tell you, Siddharth Kaul played his last international match for India six years ago. In the 2023-24 season, Punjab was successful in winning the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for the first time and Kaul was the hero of Punjab during this period, who took 16 wickets in 10 matches and was the highest wicket-taker of the tournament. He was also the highest wicket taker in the 50 over Vijay Hazare Trophy. He took 19 wickets in six matches in Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Kaul recently represented Punjab in the first half of the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy season, where he remained wicketless in two matches. In his 17-year career, he has taken 297 first-class wickets in 88 matches at an average of 26.77. He has taken 199 List A wickets at an average of 24.30 and 182 wickets in T20 at an average of 22.04.
Dominated the domestic circuit in 17 years of career
Kaul played first-class cricket for Punjab at the age of 17 and first came into limelight when he was part of Virat Kohli’s victorious India team in the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia. However, due to several back injuries he had to stay out of action for five years. From 2007 to 2012, Kaul played a total of six domestic matches in all formats. Due to his death bowling and wicket-taking ability, Kaul remained an important part of the Punjab team for 17 years.
In 2018, Kaul was rewarded for his consistent performances for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and was included in the Indian T20 team for the Ireland tour. In the year 2017, he took 16 wickets in 10 matches in the IPL for Hyderabad, while in 2018 he took 21 wickets. This season Hyderabad had traveled till the finals. Kaul is ending his career as the highest wicket taker in Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
