Ravichandran Ashwin retired from international cricket [Source: @OneCricketApp/x.com]
2024 has been a bittersweet year for cricket fans. We’ve cheered for epic matches, celebrated milestones, and, sadly, said goodbye to some of the game’s biggest legends.
This year wasn’t just about runs and wickets, it was about bidding farewell to players who’ve given their all to the sport. From world-class pacers to exceptional batters, these legendary players left behind an incredible legacy.
Let’s look at the top 5 cricketers who retired in 2024:
5. Rohit Sharma: T20Is
Rohit Sharma [Source: @ICC/x.com]
Rohit Sharma chose to call time on his career in the shortest format on the ultimate high after leading India to the T20 World Cup 2024 trophy. If there’s a perfect way to bow out, this is it.
Rohit played 159 matches in his T20I career where he smashed smashing 4231 runs with a strike rate of 140.89. Known for his effortless sixes and calmness under pressure, he’s one of the greatest T20I players India has ever produced.
4. Ravichandran Ashwin: All Formats
Ravichandran Ashwin [Source: @ICC/x.com]
The news of Ravichandran Ashwin retiring caught everyone off guard. After the third Test at the Gabba, he walked away, leaving behind an unmatched legacy.
Ashwin’s stats speak volumes. In Tests, he grabbed 537 wickets in 106 matches at an average of 24.00. But it wasn’t just his bowling that stood out—he scored over 3500 runs with 6 centuries to his name.
He was the definition of a match-winner, who was capable of turning games with both bat and ball.
3. James Anderson: All Formats
James Anderson [Source: @ICC/x.com]
If cricket is an art, James Anderson was its master painter. The King of Swing ended his incredible career at Lord’s, the home of cricket, in July 2024. It was a farewell England had planned meticulously, and it was nothing short of emotional.
Anderson leaves behind a record of 704 Test wickets in 188 matches, the most by any fast bowler. His ability to move the ball both ways, even in his 40s, made him a nightmare for batters.
2. David Warner: All Formats
David Warner [Source: @ICC/x.com]
The year started with a bang and a goodbye. David Warner played his final Test match at the SCG against Pakistan, calling time on one of the most illustrious careers in modern cricket.
Warner’s numbers are jaw-dropping: Tests: 8786 runs, 26 centuries, ODIs: 6932 runs, 22 centuries, T20Is: 3277 runs, 1 century.
1. Virat Kohli: T20Is
Virat Kohli [Source: @ICC/x.com]
No retirement shook the cricketing world more than Virat Kohli’s decision to quit T20Is. After guiding India to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024, Kohli called it a day in the shortest format. It was a farewell filled with emotion, especially after his stunning knock in the final to rescue India.
Kohli’s T20I career is the stuff of legends: 125 matches, 4188 runs, Average: 48.69, Strike Rate: 137.04, 38 fifties, and 1 hundred.