'This Season Will be My Last': 40-Test Veteran Announces Retirement From All Forms Of Cricket

India wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha has announced that the ongoing domestic season will be his last in professional cricket. He is currently playing for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy and said that this tournament will be his final one. The wicketkeeper, who turned 40 in October, has represented India in 40 Tests but just nine ODIs. Saha made his last Test appearance three years ago, in 2021, against New Zealand. He will finish with 1353 runs in 40 Tests, with three hundreds to his name. Despite playing a few important innings in that New Zealand series, the Indian team management decided to go in with KS Bharat as Rishabh Pant's backup and Saha soon fell out of favour. "After a cherished journey in cricket, this season will be my last. I’m honoured to represent Bengal one final time, playing only in the Ranji Trophy before I retire," Saha tweeted on Sunday, November 3.

After a cherished journey in cricket, this season will be my last. I’m honored to represent Bengal one final time, playing only in the Ranji Trophy before I retire. Let’s make this season one to remember! pic.twitter.com/sGElgZuqfP

— Wriddhiman Saha (@Wriddhipops) November 3, 2024

Saha played for the Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. According to a report in Sportstar, he might not feature in IPL 2025 as he has not registered himself for the mega auction, which is to be held later this month. An official announcement regarding Saha not playing IPL 2025 might be made just before the auctions, the report adds. Having debuted against Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy back in November 2007 at the Eden Gardens, he scored an unbeaten 111 to make his mark. He scored 239 runs in that season in six matches. In recent times, Saha was left upset over a certain Cricket Association of Bengal questioning his commitment to his domestic team after he missed the group stage due to personal reasons. After the fallout, he moved to Tripura for one season before returning to Bengal earlier this year. Saha was not just a player for Tripura, but the veteran wicketkeeper also played the role of a mentor. He returned to Bengal on the condition that he would only play Ranji Trophy and not Vijay Hazare or Syed Mushtaq Ali.