Krishnappa Gowtham announces retirement from all forms of cricket

Former India cricketer Krishnappa Gowtham announced his retirement from all forms of the game on Monday, December 21. He informed the media about his decision during a 'special announcement press conference' held at the Media Lounge, KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association), in the presence of KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad, Vice President Sujith Somasundar, and Secretary Santosh Menon.

Gowtham, 37, played one ODI for India on July 23, 2021, against Sri Lanka. His only international wicket was

that of wicketkeeper Minod Bhanuka. In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 auction, he became the most expensive uncapped Indian player ever when he was signed by the Chennai Super Kings for a whopping INR 9.25 crore. His record was broken by Avesh Khan in the following auction and then by Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer in the IPL 2026 mini-auction held last week.

During his career, Gowtham represented the Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants. The spin-bowling all-rounder made his last IPL appearance in May 2024 for Lucknow against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

In 36 IPL games, he scored 247 runs at a strike rate of 166.90. Meanwhile, with the ball, he accounted for 21 wickets at an economy rate of 8.24.

In 32 first-class matches, he scored 737 runs and bagged 116 wickets. He also had a fine record in List-A matches, scoring 400 runs in 32 games and taking 51 scalps. In the shortest format, he played 49 matches, amassing 454 runs and picking up 32 wickets.

One of Gowtham's most significant performances came while playing for Bellary Tuskers in the Karnataka Premier League in 2019. The Bangalore-born smashed a belligerent 134 off 56 balls (including a 39-ball century) and took eight wickets for 15 runs in the same encounter.

Gowtham also played several games for India A and came very close to making his international debut in the two other formats of the game. The all-rounder will be remembered for his never-say-die attitude and competitive spirit that helped him stand out against some of the best players around the world.