Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat finally called time on his international career, ending a brief but memorable stint with the national team. The 32-year-old took to social media, where he thanked BCCI for affording him the chance to represent India at the highest level.
Bharat termed his stint with the national team as the pinnacle of his career when he announced retirement from all forms of cricket. He expressed appreciation to the fans, teammates, coaches and family members who were there for him during his run in the sport.
Bharat played 7 Test matches for India and batted in 12 innings. He scored 221 runs at a meager batting average of 20.09 during his international career. His batting numbers don’t tell the whole story, earning praise for his work behind the stumps as he registered 19 dismissals as a keeper.
The Andhra Pradesh cricketer, who has been performing for the India A as well as in domestic cricket, made his Test debut during the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. A memorable point in his international journey was ahead of Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, scoring 44 gritty runs in Ahmedabad against Australia.
In one of India’s most significant matches in recent memory – the 2023 World Test Championship Final vs Australia in The Oval – Bharat was also asked to don wicketkeeping duties. His selection reflected the faith shown by the team management regarding his potential as a keeper-batter.
Besides international cricket, Bharat has represented franchises like Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In ten IPL games, he scored 199 runs at a strike rate of 122.08 from nine innings. His opportunities were minimal, but he served as an important squad member and gained valuable experience alongside some of the tournament’s biggest stars.
Bharat was also a member of the Kolkata Knight Riders side which won the 2024 IPL trophy, however he didn’t feature in any match during their successful tournament.
KS Bharat bids adieu to international cricket with a career wrought from resilience and dedication towards even blagging the honour of representing India on the world stage.