7 Indian Players who could announce their farewell to cricket in 2021

2021 has come into our lives brimming with hope and positivity after a terrible and difficult 2020 which was littered with uncertainty and despair which caused havoc in everyone’s life. Like the normal life sports too had suffered the troubles Coronavirus caused on it. With 2021 comes new hope and new vigor but also a chance where we could see some of our favorite superstar Indian cricketers bid goodbye to cricket in this calendar year. Here we take a look at seven such cricketers who could bid adieu to cricket this year.

Murali Vijay 

One of the most consistent openers for India, in the last decade Murali Vijay transformed from a free-stroking T-20 batsman to a dour and resolute test opener. His partnerships with Dhawan and number three Pujara laid foundation to many a wins at home. The 61 test veteran who has scored just under 4000 runs with 12 centuries and 15 half centuries, last played a test match in 2018 at Perth. He has not seen any international cricketing action since; Vijay who turns 37 on 1^st April may soon hang up his boots after a good contribution to the country.

Yusuf Pathan 

One of the most destructive batsmen in India, the older brother of former Indian all rounder Irfan Pathan was part of the Indian squad which won the 2007 T-20 world cup and the 2011 ODI world cup. Known for his big hitting and ability to bowl decent off-spin bowling Yusuf played 57 ODI games and 22 T-20 games for the Indian team. He too could bid the game goodbye this year as he was not even part of the IPL last year after having failed to attract a buyer.

Amit Mishra 

The right arm leg spinner from Haryana on his day could bamboozle the opposition with his spin and flight and run through the side. Mishra made his ODI debut in 2003 and his test debut in 2008 to replace an injured Anil Kumble at Mohali. He picked five wickets in his first test innings and all the Indian fans thought they had a potential match winner on the cards, but inconsistent performances led him to see his place in the Indian side face a topsy turvy ride. Mishra who will turn 39 in November has not played any for cricket for India since 2017. With no call up in sight the right arm leg spinner who played 22 tests for the Indian team could announce his retirement.

Stuart Binny 

The Karnataka born all rounder made his debut for the Indian national team in early 2014 on a tour to New Zealand and made his test debut the same year in England. Known for his strong late order hitting he could not replicate the IPL form he showed with the Indian team. Binny though holds the best ever ODI figures by an Indian with his six wickets for four runs against Bangladesh in a low scoring encounter which the Indian team won. Binny turns 37 in September and has been away from the Indian set up for the last 6 years.

 Harbhajan Singh 

The Turbanator has surprised one and all with his longevity as he enters his 23^rd year of top flight cricket after making his debut as a fresh faced 17 year old making his test debut at Bangalore under Mohammad Azharuddin. Harbhajan Singh who missed the IPL 2020 due to personal issues might be playing his last year as a professional cricketer as he turns 41 in July and has been more gravitating to the media side of cricket now-a-days. Harbhajan has 417 test wickets in 103 matches he played for India and a further 269 wickets from 236 ODI games including the 2011 world cup medal. He also has 25 T-20 international wickets and was one of the leading lights in the 2007 T-20 world cup win for the Indian team.

Vinay Kumar 

A work horse bowler with decent speed and ability to maintain strict line and lengths, Vinay Kumar played 31 ODI and one test match plus 9 T-20 internationals for the Indian cricket team. His brief international career saw him pick 38 ODI wickets and his last appearance for the men in blue came in his home ground at Bangalore in 2013 where was carted for over 100 runs in his nine overs in a high scoring game against the Australians. Turning 37 in a month he could very well walk away from the game after being known to be one of the most successful Ranji captains of this era.

Robin Uthappa 

Making into the Indian side at the age of 19, and scoring 86 on debut in an ODI against England, there were huge things predicted for this talented right hander from Karnataka. Uthappa played just 46 ODI games for the Indian team in a career which saw him consistently be in and out of the national side. Uthappa who is a regular in the IPL and known for his attacking batting has not played for India since 2015 will turn 36 this year and with no national recall in sight, he could very well bid goodbye to the game after what was once a promising start to his career.