KOCHI: In the sticky heat of Visakhapatnam in 2005, a teenage ball attendant stood just beyond the ropes, mesmerised as MS Dhoni tore through Pakistan with a stunning 148. The youngster was Kona Srikar Bharat, and that day\u2019s spectacle left a lasting mark\u2014one that would quietly shape his ambitions in cricket. More than two decades later, at 32, Bharat has now stepped away from international cricket, bringing an eventful chapter of his career to a close.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, KS Bharat announced his retirement from international cricket. Taking to social media, he wrote: \u201cWith a proud heart and a sense of gratitude, I announce my retirement from international cricket.\u201d He added, \u201cTo play for my country has been the greatest honour of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bharat\u2019s first taste of India came in an unusual twist of circumstances in November 2021. During the Kanpur Test against New Zealand, he was drafted in as a replacement after Wriddhiman Saha was ruled out with a stiff neck. He then made his debut in the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Nagpur.<\/p>\n
After that, Bharat\u2019s international involvement arrived in brief bursts. He went on to feature in the remaining six Tests over the following 12 months, a stretch that also coincided with a spell when Rishabh Pant was absent from international cricket following a serious car accident.<\/p>\n
The pattern captured the essence of Bharat\u2019s international story\u2014start, pause, and return. It wasn\u2019t because he lacked the nerve required for the highest level. However, the long-running label of a fringe wicketkeeper never fully faded, largely because he was positioned behind Saha and Pant in the national pecking order.<\/p>\n
As a wicketkeeper, Bharat carried plenty of energy and skill, sometimes with more \u201czip\u201d than Pant behind the stumps. Yet Pant\u2019s batting impact was far more forceful and imaginative. While Bharat was a stronger batter than Saha, he was not considered a better keeper than him. That contrast\u2014batting quality on one side, wicketkeeping comparison on the other\u2014became Bharat\u2019s defining paradox.<\/p>\n
Former chief selector MSK Prasad, who has stayed closely linked with Bharat since his teenage years, believes Bharat is among the best products to have emerged from Andhra. Prasad also admitted he tried to persuade him to delay the decision. \u201cI tried my best to convince him not to retire. He\u2019s only 32 and still can make a comeback,\u201d Prasad said. He added, \u201cAfter Saha, he is India\u2019s most skilled wicketkeeper.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bharat\u2019s wicketkeeping craft was on display during the Kanpur Test against New Zealand, highlighted by a lightning-fast stumping of Tom Latham. His balance, composure, and reflexes\u2014qualities that recalled Dhoni\u2019s style from his childhood inspiration\u2014were evident throughout the match, including with a sharp, low catch to dismiss Will Young.<\/p>\n
Prasad further described what stood out in Bharat\u2019s keeping: \u201cHe had soft hands, with a stable base. Very proficient against spinners. I picked him and Shreyas Iyer for several India A tours when I was the selector,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
Despite often being discussed primarily for his keeping, Bharat\u2019s batting has remained widely underappreciated. While he may not match Pant\u2019s aggressive instincts with the bat, Bharat has shown reliability in the lower order. When the match situation required it, he could also swing the long handle effectively\u2014such as in 2021, when his last-ball six helped RCB secure a memorable victory over Delhi Capitals in the IPL.<\/p>\n
Bharat also made a notable mark in domestic cricket: he became the first wicketkeeper in the Ranji Trophy to score a triple century. From ball boy watching Dhoni to becoming India\u2019s keeper, Bharat\u2019s international stint may have been brief, but it reflected his talent, professionalism, and the quiet perseverance that carried him through the ups and downs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KOCHI: In the sticky heat of Visakhapatnam in 2005, a teenage ball attendant stood just beyond the ropes, mesmerised as MS Dhoni tore through Pakistan…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":14294,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"KS Bharat Ends International Cricket Amid IPL Dreams","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"KS Bharat, inspired by Dhoni\u2019s 2005 heroics, ends his international cricket run at 32\u2014while setting sights on what comes next in the IPL.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n