Karthik made his official retirement announcement on his 39th birthday, following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s elimination from the IPL Eliminator, which had hinted at his impending retirement.
Karthik, who brought down curtains on a 20-year-old career marked by a series of comebacks across formats, made the announcement in a lengthy post on X on Saturday.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the affection, support and love I have received in the last few days. My deepest gratitude and sincere thanks to all the fans who have made this feeling possible.
Having given it plenty of thought for sometime 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.
I’d like to thank all my coaches, captains, selectors, teammates and members of the support staff who have made this long journey pleasant and enjoyable. Among the millions that play the sport in our country, I consider myself among the lucky few to have had the chance to represent the nation, and luckier still to have earned the goodwill of so many fans and friends.
My parents have been pillars of strength and support over all these years, and I wouldn’t be what I am without their blessings. I also owe plenty to Dipika, herself a professional sportsperson who often put her career on hold to walk my journey with me.
Of course, to all the fans and followers of our great game, a massive thank you! Cricket and cricketers, wouldn’t be the same without your support and good wishes. Dinesh Partil.” he wrote.
Karthik, having represented his country in 180 matches across three formats, amassed 3463 runs, including a solitary Test century and 17 half-centuries. Additionally, he notched up 172 dismissals, primarily behind the stumps but also a few in the outfield.
His memorable airborne stumping of Michael Vaughan in England during Sourav Ganguly’s tenure in 2004 marked his entry into the public eye. Karthik’s international journey concluded with his participation in the 2022 T20 World Cup under the leadership of Rohit Sharma.
Throughout his career, Karthik played under the captaincies of Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Virat Kohli, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cricket.