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Retirement thread

Ulzan69

Banned
Venugopal Rao retires from all forms of cricket

The 37-year-old played the last of his 16 One-Day Internationals in May 2006
The 37-year-old played the last of his 16 One-Day Internationals in May 2006
Former India and Andhra batsman Venugopal Rao has announced his decision to retire from all forms of the game. The 37-year-old played the last of his 16 One-Day Internationals in May 2006, finishing with a solitary half-century - a combative 61 against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

It was in the first class circuit that Venugopal made early waves, smashing a career-best 228 not-out against England A thereby helping South Zone overhaul a fourth-innings target of 501 - the fifth highest successful chase in a first class game. That innings at Gurgaon in 2004 against an attack featuring Simon Jones, Sajid Mahmood and James Tredwell put him on the national radar and earned him an ODI debut against Sri Lanka in July 2005.

A technically sound batsman, Venugopal made his first class debut for Andhra aged 16 during the 1998-99 season, a year before he went on to lift the Under-19 World Cup alongside future India cricketers Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh. Venugopal went on to skipper Andhra before shifting bases to Gujarat in 2012. He returned to Andhra to end his career with his home team, making the last of his 121 first class appearances in a Ranji Trophy clash against Tamil Nadu in October 2017. He finishes with 7081 first class runs at an average of 40.93 including 17 hundreds.

Venugopal also played 65 IPL games for Deccan Chargers, Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad between 2008 and 2014 and was part of the title-winning Chargers team in 2009.

© Cricbuzz
 

cnerd123

likes this
I remember seeing Venugopal take a tough catch at the boundary live Vs Pakistan in Abu Dhabi as a kid. The batsman (forget who) skied it and it went miles in the air, but Venu judged it perfectly. Made it look so easy, and he wasn't even renowned for being some amazing fielder. Gained new respect for International cricketers that day.
 

_Ed_

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He's played only one FC game in the last four years. Surprised he hadn't retired already.
 

CricAddict

Cricketer Of The Year
I remember he was known to be a slow batsman but then transformed himself into a hitter for Deccan Chargers in IPL. More like a poor man's Rahul.
 

Shri

Mr. Glass
Will always remember him getting bowled by a Bond yorker for a first ball/early duck. Unplayable outswinger that came in slightly, went away and hit off stump at a full length.
 
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cnerd123

likes this
He's played only one FC game in the last four years. Surprised he hadn't retired already.
My guess is he had to make an 'official' retirement to free himself up to be involved in franchise T20s around the world
 

weldone

Hall of Fame Member
the worst specialist batsman to play for India in last 20 years, by far

Hope his retired life is more fulfilling than his career
 

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