Mumbai icon Abhishek Nayar calls time on his cricket career

The all-rounder bows out after a long and illustrious career that saw him score 9,185 runs and pick up 279 wickets.

Former India cricketer, five-time Ranji Trophy champion and former SoBo Supersonics captain Abhishek Nayar announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, ending a journey that lasted for 15 years.

A stylish left-handed batsman, the 36-year-old Nayar played in 103 First Class matches, scoring 5,749 runs at a commendable average of 45.62 with 13 centuries and a highest score of 259. He was also a proficient medium-pacer, picking up 173 wickets at 31.47 apiece, with six five-wicket hauls and best figures of 7-131.

He also played in 99 List A games, reaping 2,145 runs at an average of 31.08, hammered at a strike rate of 95.63. He scored two centuries in the format with a highest score of 118 and picked up 79 wickets, with a single fifer of 6/28.

In the T20 format, he appeared in 95 matches - 60 of them in the Indian Premier League for Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians, Pune Warriors and Rajasthan Royals - scoring 1,291 runs and bagging 27 wickets.

Picked up as an Icon Player, Nayar also led SoBo Supersonics in the inaugural season of T20 Mumbai, where they ended up as group leaders, only for their strong campaign to end in the second qualifier match.

With a letter submitted to the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) last month, Nayar had decided to call it a day citing lack of opportunities to play at the highest level.

"It is better that I make way for a young cricketer," Nayar reasoned.

These are similar opportunities he had referred to for upcoming players when he hailed the advent of the T20 Mumbai league last year.

"I think it is a great initiative," he had said of T20 Mumbai. "Most local cricketers and club cricketers who are working hard for so many years don't get the opportunity to represent Mumbai at any level."

Nayar is an epitome of positivity and though he did not get too many breaks to represent India - he played only three One Day Internationals - he never gave up hope, constantly churning out note-worthy performances in the domestic circuit.

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