04 June,2026 09:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
KS Bharat (Pic: AFP)
Indian wicketkeeper-batsman KS Bharat officially confirmed his retirement from international cricket on Thursday, drawing the curtain on his playing days for the national team.
Bharat shared his retirement message on Instagram and expressed immense pride and deep appreciation for the privilege of representing India on the world stage.
"With a proud heart and sense of gratitude, I announce my retirement from international Cricket. To play for my country has been the greatest honour of my life. This journey of mine has demanded great resilience and strength, but the Honour to represent India in Tests is worth every moment. In a family of four, we all lived the same dream over two decades, a big heart to my sister, mom and dad for creating an environment and support system they have been. I am a product of their love, discipline and hard work," he wrote.
The stumper from Andhra wraps up his stint in international cricket with seven Test matches under his belt. Throughout these games, he gathered 221 runs, maintaining a batting average of 20.09 with a top score of 44. Behind the wickets, Bharat completed 21 catches and pulled off a single stumping.
Bharat also extended his heartfelt thanks to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), alongside the various coaches, managers, and administrative officials who guided him along the way.
"Thank you, BCCI and all the coaches and managers who I came across in my career and who supported me unconditionally by creating a great environment to play an excel at the highest level. Thank you Andhra Cricket Association, VDCA and all office bearers for your support and encouragement from my childhood. To all my teammates, I extend a big thank you for all the moments and achievements together, which helped me in my career and without you all it was not quite possible for me to achieve my dream and play the sport all these years," the wicketkeeper-batter said in the post.
Bharat expressed his appreciation to former national skipper Virat Kohli, who handed him his IPL debut for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2021. He went on to thank Rohit Sharma for captaining the side during his maiden Test match, and Rahul Dravid for mentoring him across the transition from India A to the senior national side.
"A big thank you to my IPL Debut captain Virat Kohli for giving me an opportunity to show my skills and come into recognition. A big thank you to my Indian Captain Rohit Sharma, under whom I made my Test debut, which is priceless and beyond words. To my Indian coach, Rahul Dravid, his guidance from India A to the Indian team is unforgettable. With your support, I could become an Indian Test cricket player," he said.
He left the younger athletes with a message to hold onto expansive goals and stay fiercely dedicated, adding that while his playing chapter has closed, he will remain tied to the sport via mentoring and training programs.
"My advice to young players is to dream big and work hard to achieve it. Dreams do come true with grit, discipline, hard work, and determination. If I could achieve my dream, so can you. My journey with BCCI and Test cricket may have come to an end, but my journey in the game continues," he concluded in the Instagram post.
(With ANI inputs)
