Cricket has been blessed with many legends over the years. These greats have gone on to redefine the game. Their brilliance rubbed onto the teams. These superstars achieved world domination. They went on to dictate the fate of their teams with their sheer presence. Cricket is forever indebted to these legends. But a few legendary players didn’t get a chance to play a farewell game they so richly deserved. lets look at Players Who Didn’t Get To Play A Farewell Game
Players Who Didn’t Get To Play A Farewell Game
#5 Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh has undoubtedly been one of India’s greatest limited-overs players. Man of the series performances in U-19 World Cup win, T20 World Cup win, and 50-over World Cup win, Singh had a career worth remembering. But an unfortunate disease took a toll on him and he had to battle hard to make a comeback. Yuvraj registered his highest ODI score of 150 in his comeback series in Jan 2017. He played his last ODI against the West Indies on 30 June 2017.
A player like Yuvraj didn’t get a farewell game he so richly deserved. He retired all of a sudden on 10 June 2019.
An era of Indian cricket ended with him. A champion cricketer quit the game but he stays in the hearts of his fans forever.
#4 Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan was a sensational fast bowler. He burst onto the scene with his fiery left-arm bowling. Khan’s pinpoint Yorkers were an absolute treat to watch. But poor form and fitness cost him his place. Khan went to England and bowled endlessly in county cricket. He returned a completely changed bowler ever since. Khan’s 2.0 version ran through the sides. He was one of the key reasons why India won the 2011 World Cup and raced to number 1 in Tests. But Khan, unfortunately, didn’t get a farewell game to remember. He was gradually shown the exit door citing age and poor form.
#3 Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag is arguably one of the 21st century’s best Test openers. He along with Sunil Gavaskar are two of India’s best openers ever. Sehwag completely transformed the way Test cricket was played. He remains the only Indian batsman to score two triple centuries. Sehwag played a starring role in India’s ascension to the top. But Sehwag much like others didn’t get a dignified exit. He last played a Test match in 2013 and the next bunch of youngsters quickly took up the opening slot.
#2 MS Dhoni
Mahendra Singh Dhoni remains an inspiration for an entire generation of cricketers who grew up watching the game in the 2000s. Dhoni’s meteoric rise in world cricket continues to empower small-town cricketing heroes. He is the only captain in world cricket to have won the golden quad of T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, Champions Trophy, and the ICC Test mace. Dhoni did all this just in a span of 6 years. But even for a great like Dhoni, the end was heartbreaking. His final India appearance came in the 2019 World Cup semifinal. Dhoni announced his sudden retirement in 2020 without playing a farewell game.
#1 AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers was 21st century most innovative batsman. He scored the fastest fifty, hundred, and 150 in ODIs. ABD was an all-format batsman who flourished in all conditions. He was exceptional not just in ODIs and T20s but was a rage in Tests too. In 2018, South Africa were staring at two of their toughest Test assignments at home. They were hosting India and Australia in two back-to-back series. South Africa won both the series and ABD was the only decisive factor in both those series. But in a shocking turn of events, ABD announced his retirement midway in 2018. His quest to win the World Cup for South Africa could never materialise.
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