Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Flamboyant India batsman Virender Sehwag has retired from international cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL) effective immediately.
Sehwag, who made the announcement via his Twitter account on Tuesday, will now be participating in the Masters Champions League, which is a Twenty20 tournament for players who have retired from all forms of international cricket.
Sehwag, who is renowned as one of the most explosive openers the game has ever seen, represented India in 104 Tests and amassed 8,586 runs, which included 23 centuries, at a brilliant average of 49.34. He also played 251 ODIs and 19 Twenty20 Internationals, scoring 8,273 and 394 runs respectively.
“God has been kind and I have done what I wanted to do – on the field and in my life and I had decided sometime back that I will retire on my 37th birthday,” Sehwag said in a statement. “So, while I spend the day with my family, I hereby announce my retirement from all forms of international cricket and the Indian Premier League.
“Cricket has been my life and continues to be so. Playing for India was a memorable journey and I tried to make it more memorable for my team-mates and for the Indian cricket fans. I believe I was reasonably successful in doing so. For that, I wish to thank all my teammates over the years – some of the greatest players of the game. I would like to thank all my captains, who believed in me and backed me to the hilt. I also thank our greatest partner, the Indian cricket fan for all the love, support and the memories.
“I also want to thank everyone for all the cricketing advice given to me over the years and apologise for not accepting most of it! I had a reason for not following it: I did it my way!”