This is to announce my retirement from first class cricket. The prime reason behind this decision is lack of motivation and also that I am not deriving the same amount of enjoyment like before. I personally maintained that I would call it a day whenever I felt the chances of a comeback were ruled out. Even though there is still a bit of cricket left in me, I do not want to be an obstacle for the youngsters. I enjoyed every minute of my playing days and as such there are no regrets. As one who always saw the positive side of things, I consider it a privelege to have played with and against some great cricketers. Cricket has given me everything in life.

I thank Mr. Hanumant Singh for all the encouragement he gave me throughout my career. I take this opportunity to thank Ravi Shastri who was largely responsible for me making my debut in Test cricket. Thanks also to Kris Srikkanth and Bharat Reddy, my first captains respectively in Duleep and Ranji Trophies. I also thank Venkataraghavan for all his help.

I thank all the cricketers who played with me for all the good times they provided on and off the field. I would like to thank all my family members and my wife for all the encouragement and support. Thanks also to my friends and well wishers for their support.

Last but not the least I thank the TNCA for all that they have done for me all these years. My special thanks to Mr. Soundararajan Managing Director, Sri Venkatesa Paper & Boards, who was my first sponsor and also to M/s TVS group of companies, my first employers. I also owe a lot of gratitude to my present employers MRF Ltd. I thank all the media agencies and their reporters.

Finally, if I have hurt anybody, I would like to stress that it was unintentional and not due to any personal animosity. I wish the TNCA and all the young cricketers the very best in the future. I will be happy to see many more cricketers from Tamil Nadu play for the country. That is it, folks. Adios Amigos.