Dhawal Kulkarni, a stalwart of Mumbai cricket and a seasoned fast bowler, announced his retirement from cricket after the conclusion of the Ranji Trophy season. Kulkarni’s retirement came on a high note as he played a pivotal role in Mumbai’s victory in the Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha.
Dhawal Kulkarni retires
In his final first-class match, Kulkarni claimed the final Vidarbha wicket, handing Mumbai their 42nd Ranji Trophy title and their first in eight years. The 35-year-old, who made his first-class debut back in 2008, ended his career with a record of 281 first-class wickets from 95 matches.
Kulkarni’s retirement marks the end of an illustrious career that saw him represent India in 12 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) between 2014 and 2016. He picked up 19 wickets in ODIs and three in T20Is.
Kulkarni’s journey in cricket has been marked by consistent performances and significant contributions to his teams. He has been a key figure in Mumbai’s pace attack for many years, ending up with 15 five-wicket hauls and a 10-wicket haul.
His performance in the Ranji Trophy has been particularly noteworthy. He picked up five-wicket hauls in the 2008/09, 2012/13, and 2015/16 Ranji Trophy finals. In the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha, Kulkarni picked up a total of four wickets, including the final wicket of the match.
Kulkarni’s retirement was met with praise and admiration from his peers. Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who was teammates with Kulkarni at Mumbai Indians, hailed the pacer as Mumbai’s warrior.
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