Why Did Krishnappa Gowtham Retire from All Forms of Cricket?
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New Delhi, Dec 22 (NationPress) Former Indian all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham has officially concluded his professional cricket journey, revealing his retirement from all formats on Monday. The 37-year-old announced this significant news during a press conference held at the KSCA Media Lounge, with notable attendees including Karnataka State Cricket Association president Venkatesh Prasad, vice-president Sujith Somasundar, and secretary Santosh Menon.
Gowtham represented India in one international match, making his only ODI appearance against Sri Lanka on July 23, 2021. In that game, he claimed his sole international wicket by dismissing wicketkeeper Minod Bhanuka.
He gained fame in the Indian Premier League as the most expensive uncapped Indian player during the 2021 auction, when he was acquired by Chennai Super Kings for INR 9.25 crore. This record was later surpassed by Avesh Khan, and most recently by Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer at the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
Throughout his IPL journey, Gowtham played for teams including Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants. His last appearance in the league was in May 2024, where he represented Lucknow Super Giants against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
In a total of 36 IPL matches, this spin-bowling all-rounder accumulated 247 runs at a strike rate of 166.90 and took 21 wickets with an economy rate of 8.24. In domestic cricket, he had impressive stats, finishing with 737 runs and 116 wickets from 32 first-class matches. In List A cricket, he scored 400 runs and secured 51 wickets from 32 matches, while his T20 career featured 454 runs and 32 wickets across 49 games.
A highlight of Gowtham’s career occurred during the 2019 Karnataka Premier League when he played for Bellary Tuskers. He delivered a stellar performance, scoring 134 runs off just 56 balls, including a rapid hundred off 39 balls, and followed it with remarkable bowling figures of 8 for 15 in the same match.
Gowtham also participated in several matches for India A and was close to securing additional international caps in various formats. Renowned for his resilience and competitive spirit, he has left an enduring legacy as a player who consistently excelled against formidable rivals.