India all-rounder Rumeli Dhar announces retirement from all forms of cricket

• Image Credit: Internet

• Jun 22, 2022 | Dhupali Das

Dhar played her last international match at Brabourne in 2018, during the tri-nation T20I series between India, Australia, and England.

Digital Desk: India's pace all-rounder Rumeli Dhar on Wednesday announced her retirement from all formats of the game at the age of 38. 

Dhar played her last international match at Brabourne in 2018, during the tri-nation T20I series between India, Australia, and England.

"23 years of my cricket career that started from Shyamnagar in West Bengal, has finally come to an end as I announce my retirement from all forms of cricket. The journey has been a prolonged one with highs and lows. The high was representing the Indian Women's cricket team, playing the World Cup final in 2005 as well as leading the Women in Blue. A string of injuries plagued my career but I always come back stronger to make it count," Dhar wrote on her Instagram.

The 38-year-old further added that she will remain engaged in the sport and will support the future athletes of the nation. 

"Each match in this prolonged career taught me a lesson that will help in my second innings. Like all journeys, mine will end as a cricketer today, but I promise to be associated with the sport and help nurture young talents in the country, giving back to the game in every way possible," she said. 

"Thanking everyone for me who has been there through all my ups and downs, everyone who has loved me, my game, pushed me when I needed the most, cheered me at my worst, laughed with me, scolded me when I needed. I owe each one of you for everything I am today. Today I am running out of words to express the feeling that is within. Just want to thank everyone for being there for me…and giving me so much love all these years!" she added. 

During the course of her career, Dhar played in four Tests, 78 ODIs, and 18 T20Is totaling 1328 runs and 84 wickets. She was also a member of the Indian squad that competed in the 2005 World Cup final in South Africa, losing to Australia by a score of 98 runs. With six strikes in four games and an economy rate of 4.78, she was also India's joint-highest wicket-taker at the 2009 T20 World Cup in England.

When Dhar, then 34, was selected for the Indian T20 squad for their February 2018 tour of South Africa, she returned to the Indian team for the first time since her debut against England in Lincoln in 2003.