Former CSK cricketer shocks fans with retirement announcement before IPL 2025, eyes foreign T20 leagues
New Delhi: Ankit Rajpoot, the 31-year-old pacer from Uttar Pradesh, has announced his retirement from Indian cricket on Monday, December 16. Rajpoot, who previously represented Chennai Super Kings (CSK) , Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rajasthan Royals(RR) , and Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), revealed his decision on social media, expressing his intent to explore opportunities in foreign T20 leagues.
This move aligns with the growing trend of Indian cricketers pursuing international T20 leagues, with players like Unmukt Chand, the 2012 U-19 World Cup-winning captain, leading the way.
Rajpoot’s career highlight came in the 2016 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he claimed 14 wickets at an impressive average of 14.21, contributing significantly to Uttar Pradesh’s success. He was also a key member of the CSK squad during the 2013 and 2014 IPL seasons.
In his retirement announcement, Rajpoot, whose career spanned from 2009 to 2024, expressed deep gratitude for the opportunities provided by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association, among others. He also thanked his coaches, teammates, and support staff for their role in his journey.
Rajpoot’s social media post read:
“Today, with immense gratitude & humility, I announce my retirement from Indian cricket. My journey from 2009-2024 has been the most wonderful period of my life. I am grateful for the opportunities given to me by the BCCI, Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association, Kanpur Cricket Association, and IPL franchises including Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals, and Lucknow Super Giants. I would also like to thank my physio Dr. Saif Naqvi, my coach Shashi Sir, and the support staff for helping turn my dream into reality. I thank all my fans for their support and my family for their unconditional love.”
“I am excited to announce that I will be exploring new opportunities in cricket and the business side of the sport. I look forward to this new chapter and the challenges it brings. I wish all my former teammates the best of luck in their future endeavors.”
Rajpoot also took a moment to thank the five IPL teams he represented: Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Lucknow Super Giants.
Throughout his career, Rajpoot played 80 First-Class matches, 50 List A matches, and 87 T20 matches, taking 248, 71, and 105 wickets, respectively. He gained significant attention during the 2016 IPL auction when Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for a substantial sum of ₹1.5 crore. Rajpoot’s most recent appearance was in the 2024 Ranji Trophy, where he failed to take a wicket in 16 overs against Haryana. He made his first-class debut in the 2012-13 season against Karnataka, where he claimed three key wickets, including that of Manish Pandey.