Opener Murali Vijay, who was out of the Indian team for a long time, announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday. The right-handed batsman played 61 Tests, 17 ODIs and nine T20 Internationals for the country. He played his last match for the Indian team as a Test match against Australia in December 2018 in Perth. He made his international debut as a substitute for Gautam Gambhir in the 2008–09 Test against Australia.
He made his first-class and List A cricket appearances for Tamil Nadu in late 2019. Talking about professional cricket, he played for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League in 2020. Vijay said in a statement released on Twitter, “Today I humbly announce my retirement from all forms of international cricket.” The 38-year-old player said, “I am excited to announce that I will look for new opportunities in the world of cricket and things related to its business. In this, I will also continue to participate in the sport that I love and keep challenging myself in new and different environments.
He said, “I believe this will be the next step in my journey as a cricketer and I am looking forward to the new chapter in my life.” Association), CSK (Chennai Super Kings) and Chemiplast Sanmar, said, “I am grateful for the opportunities given to me by the Indian Cricket Board, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, Chennai Super Kings and Chemiplast Sanmar.”
He said, “I would like to thank all my teammates, coaching members, mentors and support staff for their contribution in making my dream a reality. It has been a privilege for me to play with all of you.” Thanking his fans for supporting him even after his ups and downs in performance during the game, he said, “I will always remember the moments spent with all of you. Will always keep and your support has always been a source of inspiration for me.
The player said, “Lastly, I would like to thank my family and friends for their unconditional love and support throughout my career. Without him I would not have achieved this feat.” Vijay scored 3982 runs in 61 Tests at an average of 38.28 with a highest score of 167. He scored 12 centuries and 15 half-centuries during this period. He scored 339 runs in 17 ODIs and 169 runs in seven T20 Internationals. In the IPL, he put up a memorable performance for the Chennai Super Kings. He scored 458 runs in the 2010 season with the help of one century and two half-centuries.
