Murali Vijay announces retirement from international cricket

Veteran batter Murali Vijay has announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday (January 30). Vijay has stated that he will continue to look for opportunities to play around the world and explore the business side of the sport as well.

The opener played 61 Tests, 17 ODIs and 9 T20Is for India since making his debut in 2008 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. His most recent appearance for the national side came in December 2018 against the same opposition in Perth, post which he was never picked again.

"Today, with immense gratitude & humility, I announce my retirement from all forms of International cricket," he said in a statement. "My journey from 2002-2018 has been the most wonderful years of my life for it was an honour representing India at the highest level of sport.

"I am grateful for the opportunities given to me by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), Chennai Super Kings and Chemplast Sanmar.

"I am excited to announce that I will be exploring new opportunities in the world of cricket & the business side of it, where I will also continue to participate in the sport that I love and challenge myself in new and different environments. I believe that this is the next step in my journey as a cricketer and I look forward to this new chapter in my life."

Vijay looked impressive in his debut Test and then went on to score 87 in his second game against Sri Lanka. He managed to nail down a spot in the XI and scored his maiden Test ton in October 2010 before losing his spot the following year. He was brought back again in 2013 for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home and repaid the faith by scoring two massive centuries in India's 4-0 win. The opener slowly gained a reputation for scoring runs overseas and ended up scoring centuries in England and Australia. Runs did dry up in 2018 though where he scored just one century in eight Tests before getting dropped.

While his white-ball career never took off for India, Vijay went through a purple patch in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings where he scored two centuries and made 95 in the final in 2011. After a brief spell with Delhi Daredevils and later Kings XI Punjab where he even captained the franchise, Vijay returned to CSK for a second stint in 2018 that didn't prove to be successful. His last appearance in the IPL came in September 2020.