Indian wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat has announced his retirement from international cricket. The 32-year-old player shared the news on June 4, in a heartfelt post on his Instagram account.
He played seven Test matches for India from February 2023 to February 2024. Bharat had chosen to stay away from the national team and play in the overseas T20 leagues, becoming another Indian cricketer who is retiring early to play in global tournaments.
A Brief but Significant International Career
KS Bharat made his Test debut against Australia in Nagpur during the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He was promoted to the side after first choice wicket keeper, Rishabh Pant, suffered a serious car accident in 2022. Bharat had the chance to play in some high-profile matches during his time with the national side. Most notably, he featured as India’s specialist wicketkeeper in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia at The Oval.
But Bharat had not been able to get consistent runs with the bat in his international career. He played his last Test against England in his hometown of Visakhapatnam in February 2024. Following that series, he dropped down the ranks as the team went for younger options like Dhruv Jurel. Despite that, teammates and experts often praised his technical skills behind the stumps.
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Why KS Bharat Decided to Retire
Bharat’s retirement was largely because of his desire to play in foreign T20 franchise leagues. Under the existing rules of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), active players can’t play in overseas leagues. Players must officially retire from Indian cricket to take part in these competitions. Meanwhile, the BCCI is considering a new cooling-off policy that might see retired players having to wait before joining foreign leagues.
Besides, Bharat’s numbers with the bat in Test cricket were not up to the mark. He did not score a single half-century in 12 innings. In international cricket, he made a highest score of 44 against Australia in Ahmedabad in 2023. With the return of Rishabh Pant and the growth of new keepers, the chances of a Bharat comeback seemed limited.
Success in Domestic and IPL Cricket
KS Bharat had a very successful domestic career with Andhra before he made it to the international stage. He played 116 first-class games, scoring over 6,100 runs. In 2015, he became the first wicketkeeper-batter to score a triple century in Ranji Trophy. He scored 308 against Goa, which remains his career-best.
Bharat also had a notable Indian Premier League (IPL) career. He represented four different teams, including Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
One of his biggest moments came in 2021 while playing for RCB. He hit a six off the last ball against Delhi Capitals to win the match. He was also a member of the KKR team that won the IPL title in 2024.
Tributes to Captains and Coaches
Bharat expressed gratitude to several players and coaches from the Indian cricket on his retirement announcement. He specifically thanked Virat Kohli, who was his captain when he debuted in the IPL. He also thanked Rohit Sharma, the captain who led the team during his Test debut.
Furthermore, Bharat shared a special message for former head coach Rahul Dravid. He mentioned that Dravid’s guidance from the India A team to the senior national side was unforgettable. Bharat also thanked the Andhra Cricket Association and the groundsmen who prepared the pitches he played on throughout his life.
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