Siddarth Kaul, the fast bowler from Punjab who earned recognition for his impressive domestic and IPL performances, has announced his retirement from Indian cricket at the age of 34. Kaul, who last represented India nearly six years ago, steps away from the international stage after a brief yet notable career.
Kaul’s international career spanned just under a year, from June 2018 to February 2019, during which he earned six caps—three each in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 Internationals (T20Is). Despite his limited opportunities, Kaul made a mark with his skillful death-bowling and wicket-taking abilities. His highlight came in 2018 when he made his T20I debut on India’s tour of Ireland, a reward for his consistent performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he played a key role for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
His IPL journey included two highly successful seasons with SRH in 2017 and 2018, where Kaul was a standout performer, claiming 16 wickets in 10 matches in 2017 and finishing as the team’s joint-highest wicket-taker with 21 wickets in 2018. These performances helped SRH reach the final in 2018, where they finished runners-up to Chennai Super Kings. In addition to SRH, Kaul also represented Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Royal Challengers Bangalore over his IPL career.
While his international career may have been brief, Kaul’s domestic record is formidable. He finished as the all-time highest wicket-taker in both the Vijay Hazare Trophy (155 wickets) and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (120 wickets). In the 2023-24 season, Kaul helped Punjab win their first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, finishing as their highest wicket-taker with 16 wickets in 10 games. He was also pivotal in Punjab’s Vijay Hazare Trophy triumph, claiming 19 wickets in just six matches.
Kaul’s contribution to domestic cricket spans across formats, with 297 first-class wickets at an average of 26.77 in 88 matches, and 199 List A wickets at 24.30. In T20s, he has claimed 182 wickets with an economy rate of 7.67. These statistics reflect his consistent excellence over a career that spanned 17 years, despite setbacks due to multiple back injuries earlier in his career.
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Looking to the future, Kaul remains open to continuing his cricket journey overseas. “I feel I still have 3-4 years of cricket left in me, but I wanted to go out on a high,” Kaul explained in an interview with ESPNcricinfo. “If opportunities arise, like in county cricket, MLC, or the Legends League, I’d like to explore them.”
Kaul’s most recent overseas stint was with Northamptonshire, where he played three matches in the County Championship Division 2 earlier this year, picking up 13 wickets at an average of 29.84.
Kaul’s retirement marks the end of a distinguished career in Indian cricket, one defined by resilience, consistency, and adaptability across different formats and playing conditions. As he transitions into the next phase of his cricketing life, Kaul’s legacy in domestic cricket and his role in shaping Punjab’s rise in Indian cricket will be remembered.
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