Indian cricketers who didn’t get a farewell match
No matter what sport it is, a farewell match for players is one of the most precious and significant things for fans and teammates, as it gives them the chance to celebrate the career of the retiring player. However, there are some eminent Indian cricketers who ended their international careers without getting a farewell match. Each one of them had a notable impact in world cricket, but unfortunately fans couldn’t witness them playing their final match. In this article, we will have a look at six prominent Indian cricketers who didn’t get a farewell game.
Harbhajan Singh
India’s notable off-spinner Harbhajan Singh had an amazing career. He was an important member of the 2011 World Cup winning team. Harbhajan played 226 ODIs for India and took 269 wickets. He was part of the 2016 T20 World Cup squad but didn’t get a chance in playing 11. He played his last Test match in 2015 and announced his retirement from international cricket in 2021.
Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan is another veteran who lost his place in the team after the 2011 World Cup. Zaheer put up a commendable performance in the World Cup final as he bowled three maiden overs and took two wickets. However, his appearances decreased after the World Cup and he retired from international cricket in 2015. Zaheer continued to play in IPL till 2017 and then transitioned to commentary.
Virender Sehwag
Indian team’s prominent opening batsman, Virender Sehwag, dominated the game for several years. However, he was dropped from all formats in 2013 and didn’t get a farewell match. Sehwag continued to play domestic cricket in efforts to return to the team but announced his retirement from international cricket in 2015.
Yuvraj Singh
One of the most dominating and aggressive batsmen of his time, Yuvraj Singh’s career took a tragic turn when he was diagnosed with cancer. India’s star performer of the 2011 World Cup made a brief return to the Indian cricket team in 2017 and was part of the Champions Trophy squad. However, Yuvraj could not make a significant comeback. Yuvraj announced his retirement from international cricket in 2019. Yuvi was offered a farewell match but declined the offer.
MS Dhoni
Former Indian captain MS Dhoni had a remarkable cricket career. He led India to win three ICC trophies. MSD could have had a farewell match, but he decided to retire during the COVID-19 pandemic. On August 15, 2020, Dhoni surprised with his retirement announcement by posting a video on Instagram. He played his last match for India in July 2019. Despite retiring from international cricket, Dhoni continues to play in the IPL.
Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan is the latest cricketer to join the list of Indian cricketers who retired without playing a farewell game. The former Indian opener announced his retirement on August 24, 2024. Dhawan was the top scorer for India in three ICC tournaments. His last appearance for team India was in 2022.