Pacer Siddharthh Kaul joins State Bank of India days after retirement
Former India pacer Siddarth Kaul has embraced a new chapter in his life by joining the State Bank of India (SBI), just days after announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket in India. The 34-year-old shared the news on his Twitter handle, posting a picture of himself at his new workplace with a caption announcing his transition.
Kaul’s retirement marked the end of a 17-year cricketing career. The former right-arm pacer represented India in three ODIs and three T20Is, debuting in 2018. His role in India’s victorious U19 World Cup campaign in 2008 remains a career highlight. Under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, Kaul led the bowling attack with 10 wickets, becoming the tournament’s leading pacer for India.
In domestic cricket, Kaul was a mainstay for Punjab, amassing 297 wickets in 88 first-class matches and 199 in 111 List A games. His contributions extended to the IPL, where he began with Delhi Daredevils in 2013 before making a significant impact with SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) from 2017 to 2021. Kaul’s peak IPL performances came in 2017 and 2018, taking 16 and 21 wickets respectively, with the latter season ranking him as the joint second-highest wicket-taker.
Despite his successes, opportunities dwindled in recent years. After joining Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2021, he found limited chances, and his name went unsold in subsequent IPL auctions, including the most recent mega auction in Jeddah.
Kaul’s post-cricket career move has been well-received by fans, many of whom lauded his humility and determination. In his retirement note, Kaul expressed gratitude to the cricketing community, IPL franchises, and supporters who stood by him throughout his journey.
While Kaul steps away from the cricket field, his legacy as a dependable pacer and an integral part of Indian cricket, and majorly in the IPL, remains intact.
