Indian opener who was dropped after fifty on ODI debut announces retirement, pens heartfelt note ahead of final Ranji appearance

Indian opener and former Vidarbha captain Faiz Fazal has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. After bagging a duck on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 clash against Haryana at his homeground in Nagpur, Fazal wrote a heartfelt note on his Instagram handle on February 18. 
 

Here’s what Fazal wrote on Instagram

"Tomorrow marks the end of an era as I step onto the Nagpur ground for the last time, where my journey in first-class cricket began 21 incredible years ago. It’s been an unforgettable ride, filled with cherished memories that I’ll hold dear forever.
 

Representing both the Indian Cricket Team and Vidarbha has been the greatest honor of my life, and donning those cricket jerseys has always filled me with immense pride. Farewell to my beloved Number 24 jersey – you’ll be deeply missed.
 

A heartfelt thank you to all my teammates, coaches, physios, and trainers, “and special mention to groundsmen”, family, friends, and supporters who’ve been my pillars of strength throughout this remarkable journey.
 

As one chapter closes, another awaits, and while bidding adieu to my professional cricket career fills me with mixed emotions, I’m eagerly looking forward to embracing the new adventures that lie ahead."
 

 

Faiz Fazal’s ODI debut 

The left-handed batter made his ODI debut in 2016 under MS Dhoni's captaincy, he scored an unbeaten half-century against Zimbabwe in a 10-wicket win. Fazal is among the 17 Indian batters to score fifty on ODI debut but he never represented another ODI as India had Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan as their first-choice openers in the format. 
 

Faiz Fazal’s poor run in Ranji Trophy 2023-24

The 38-year-old has not been in form in the ongoing season. In the last six games, he has not scored a single-half-century. He started with a bang scoring twin centuries against Railways but could not continue it. In his farewell game against Haryana, he registered scores of 1 and 0. He will be seen in action as a fielder on Day 4 of the clash against Haryana. 
 

Fazal's career in numbers

He has 9,183 runs from 137 first-class games at an average of 41.36 including 24 centuries and 39 half-centuries. In List A cricket, he has 3,641 runs from 113 games at an average of 35 including 10 centuries and 22 fifties. He played for Rajasthan Royals in the 2010 and 2011 editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) but failed to score a single half-century.
 

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