Cricket: Mohit Sharma announces retirement from cricket after IPL release
Sharma hangs up boots after 14-year professional career
This year has seen several high-profile Indian cricketers announce their retirement, including the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Tests and T20Is, as well as now-former wicketkeeper-batsmen Chesteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha.
Adding to that list is now veteran pacer Mohit Sharma, who confirmed that he has hung up his boots on all forms of the game last week via an emotional message on his Instagram handle, where he wrote:
“Today, with a full heart, I announce my retirement from all formats of cricket. From representing Haryana to wearing the India jersey and playing in the IPL, this journey has been nothing short of a blessing.”
Sharma made his first-class debut for Haryana in 2011, and his impressive performances on the domestic circuit earned him a call-up to the Indian national team in 2013, when he went on to feature in 26 ODIs and eight T20Is for the Men in Blue.
The highlight of the pacer’s career came at the 2015 ICC World Cup, where he finished as the team’s third-highest wicket-taker in the competition, less than a year after winning the Purple Cap in the Indian Premier League with the Chennai Super Kings.
Across all formats, Sharma ends his career having taken 127 wickets in 44 first-class matches, 86 wickets in 78 List A games, and 167 wickets in 172 T20Is. In the IPL, the 37-year-old has claimed 134 scalps in 120 matches.
Delhi Capitals target five players at 2026 IPL auction
After missing out on reaching the knockout phase of the Indian Premier League last season by the slenderest of margins, the Delhi Capitals are expected to be busy in the auction for the upcoming campaign, as they look to bolster their ranks following the release of several notable players such as Sharma.
The Capitals will head to the auction with a purse of ₹21.8 crore to spend, and they have as many as eight slots to fill, including five for overseas players. It is understood that their major focus is on strengthening their middle order and bowling lineup.
Among the batsmen that have been rumoured to be on DC’s wishlist are Australia’s Steve Smith, David Miller of South Africa, and Indian batter Sarfaraz Khan, who recently blasted 100 runs off just 47 deliveries at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Following his release from the Kolkata Knight Riders, Venkatesh Iyer is also on Delhi’s radar thanks to his all-round ability, while Gerald Coetzee is believed to be the team’s top pace target after his impressive performance in the SA20 last season.
