Retiring from international cricket is never easy. For some players, even when the world saw their potential, circumstances forced them to walk away much earlier than expected. Here are five such cricketers who left the game prematurely, along with the reasons why they did so.
1. Nicholas Pooran (West Indies)
Nicholas Pooran stunned everyone when he announced his international retirement at the age of 29. Though he didn’t give a detailed explanation, he described the decision as very difficult. At the time, he was one of the West Indies’ leading T20 players and held the record for most runs for his country in T20Is. However he ended his international career on Personal choice without detailed public reason, despite being at a high point in his franchise career.
2. Craig Kieswetter (England)
Craig Kieswetter was regarded as one of England’s most promising white-ball talents and played a crucial role in England’s 2010 T20 World Cup triumph. Known for his aggressive batting and consistency, he made a strong impact early in his career.
However, his journey was tragically cut short after a severe eye injury sustained during a county match left him with lasting vision problems, forcing him to retire from professional cricket at just 27 years old.
3. Ravi Shastri (India)
Ravi Shastri was a key all-rounder for India during the 1980s and early 1990s, contributing both with bat and ball. Ravi Shastri retired early from cricket due to a career-ending knee injury that made it impossible to continue playing international sports, despite surgery. The injury became a recurring problem and ultimately forced him to stop playing competitive cricket around the age of 31
4. James Taylor (England)
James Taylor was one of England’s most promising young batsmen, known for his solid technique and consistent performances. He had an impressive start to his ODI career, scoring 887 runs in 26 innings at an average of 42.23.
However, his flourishing career came to an abrupt end in 2016 when he was diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC), a serious heart condition that forced him to retire from all forms of cricket at just 26 years old.
5. Saqlain Mustaq (Pakistan)
Saqlain Mushtaq was one of Pakistan’s finest spin bowlers, widely credited with developing the famous “doosra” delivery that revolutionized off-spin bowling. Unfortunately, his promising career was cut short due to a combination of persistent knee injuries and vision problems, which forced him to retire at just 27 years old in 2004.
Why These Retirements Matter
- Some had injuries or health issues that they couldn’t overcome (Craig Kieswetter, James Taylor, Saqlain Mustaq).
- Others made personal decisions or shifted focus (Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Shastri).
- Each one had the talent to continue for years, but circumstances made them stop early.
These stories remind us that even the most promising careers can be cut short. The reasons may differ: health, injury, personal choice, but the impact is the same: fans and teams lose players who still had so much to give.
Written by: Manjunath