Over the years, many cricketers attained fame in international cricket with their outstanding contributions to cricket with the bat, and ball combined with on-field brilliance including taking some unbelievable catches and effecting runouts. These players were at a different level and seemed to be unstoppable when they were on top of their game.However, there were many cricketers who shocking took retirement from the game when they were at the peak of their respective international careers.
Brendon McCullum
Brendon McCullum is arguably the best captain after the late Martin Crowe to take New Zealand cricket to greater heights . He helped the New Zealand in playing a fearless brand of cricket which they played even in Test cricket. Under McCullum’s guidance, the Kiwis made their maiden World Cup final appearance in 2015 where lost to Australia at MCG in a one-sided contest.
After the 2015 edition of the ODI World Cup, Brendon was expected to lead New Zealand to their maiden world title in the following year’s T20 World Cup in India. However, in December, the explosive batter made it clear that he would take retirement from international cricket after the home Test series against Australia in February 2016.
While New Zealand won the three-match ODI series, 2-1, the Aussies went on to register an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Test series. More importantly in what was his final international game, McCullum broke the record for the fastest century in Tests. It took him just 54 balls to achieve this feat.
AB de Villiers
He is known for introducing innovative and tactical batting when he was at the peak of his career . ABD scooped any lethal bowlers effortlessly for six by fearlessly walking across the stumps and did not shy away from switch-hitting either.
When Abraham Benjamin de Villiers was in the prime of his life having registered several cricketing records to his name including the fastest ODI century and averaging over 50 in Test cricket, he decided to take retirement from his international career in May 2018 and from then on until 2021, there were rumors of him making a comeback to the South African team which never happened.
Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina was not part of the 2019 World Cup but with age and fitness on his side, he was never too far away from a comeback to the Indian Team. However on August 15, 2020, when former India captain MS Dhoni shocked everyone by announcing his retirement from international cricket, Raina too joined his mentor and captain and called it a day in international cricket. Raina too was only 33 years old when he decided to retire.
Kieron Pollard
Pollard was one of the West Indies’ go-to players for more than a decade in the international cricket. He made a mark with his stellar all-round performances, but more importantly, was known for his power-hitting in the middle order which had the ability to change the complexion of the game.
Pollard decided to announce his retirement at a time when West Indies were trying to establish themselves as worthy challengers in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and ODI World Cup 2023 in India. The all-rounder was leading them in limited-overs.
Thisara Perera
Thisara Perera was one of the promising all-rounders of Sri Lanka who contributed to the wickets tally with his medium-pace on a regular basis and was also known for his ability to play big shots in the middle-order. In fact, he hit the winning six in Sri Lanka’s famous T20 World Cup 2014 triumph against India in Dhaka.
Perera decided took retirement frim international cricket in May last year but made it clear that he would continue to play franchise cricket. Of all batters with at least 2000 runs in One Day Internationals.