Shukla quits cricket

Kolkata, Dec 30: Former India cricketer and ex-Bengal captain Laxmi Ratan Shukla on Wednesday announced his retirement from all forms of the game.

Shukla donned the Indian colours in three One-Day Intertiols (ODIs) in which he scored 18 runs and picked up a wicket. The 34-year-old has had a wonderful domestic career for Bengal which lasted for around 18 years since his first class debut against Guwahati in 1997.

“It’s been 21 years that I have been playing. I have had a wonderful career for Bengal. I don’t believe that to leave something, there is got to be a strong reason. I always believe whatever we want to do only we can decide, nobody else. And I have decided not to play cricket anymore,” Shukla told reporters here.

The veteran all-rounder played in 137 first class matches for Bengal amassing 6,217 runs at an average of 35.93. With the ball he picked up 172 wickets. In List A cricket he scored 2997 runs and bagged 143 wickets from 141 games.

His domestic Twenty 20 record includes 994 runs and 47 wickets from 81 encounters.

He also played for Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad.