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New Delhi:Team India wicketkeeper-batter Kona Srikar Bharat has announced his retirement from international cricket on Thursday, June 4. He has played seven Tests for India between 2023 and 2024.

The wicketkeeper batter made his debut against Australia in Nagpur in February 2023, though he received a call-up in the Indian squad in 2019. He last played a Test match for the county against England in Visakhapatnam in 2024. Bharat scored 221 runs with a career-best of 44.

“With a proud heart and a sense of gratitude, I announce my retirement from international cricket. To play for my country has been the greatest honour of my life,” Bharat said in a social media post.

Bharat further added that his journey has demanded great resilience and strength, but the honour to play Test matches for the country was worth every moment. The wicketkeeper-batter thanked his sister, mother and father for supporting him and said that he’s a product of their love, discipline and hard work.

He represented Andhra in domestic cricket and is the first wicketkeeper-batter to smash a triple hundred in the Ranji Trophy. He had scored 308 runs off 311 balls against Goa in 2014-2015, which was also the first-ever triple century by any Andhra batter.

He also thanked former India captain Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, under whom leaderships the wicketkeeper-batter made his IPL and international debut.

“A big thank you to my IPL debut captain Virat Kohli for giving me an opportunity to show my skill and come into recognition. A big thank you to my Indian captain Rohit Sharma, under whom I made my Test debut, which is priceless and beyond words,” he wrote.

He also thanked former India coach Rahul Dravid for his guidance from India A to the senior team and said that it was because of his support that he became an Indian Test cricketer.

Bharat also featured for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2021 while he represented Delhi Capitals (DC) in the following season.