Top 10 cricketers who retired in 2024

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. (Source – Twitter/X)

2024 was an exciting year for cricket enthusiasts as they witnessed some exhilarating action across the three formats. However, it was a year filled with emotional moments as some of the big names retired from international cricket. In this article, CricTracker lists the names of the top 10 players who retired in the calendar year 2024.

Top 10 cricketers who retired in 2024:

1. Rohit Sharma (India)

ROHIT SHARMA (Source: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Rohit Sharma bid farewell to T20I cricket in June 2024. This was after he had guided India to the T20 World Cup title with his inspirational leadership. Rohit finished his T20I career with 4,231 runs from 159 matches at an average of 31.34 and a strike rate of 140.89. He has more runs in T20I cricket than any other batter in world cricket. The 37-year-old also has the joint-most number of centuries (five) in the shortest format.

2. David Warner

David Warner. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

During the Ashes, David Warner announced his retirement from Test matches in June 2023. He said back then that his last Test series would be against Pakistan at home. On New Year’s Day in 2024, Warner bid farewell to ODI cricket as well. In June, the southpaw played in the T20 World Cup 2024. After the mega event, the Paddington-born announced his retirement from the shortest format, thus bringing an end to his illustrious international career.

3. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Like his captain, Rohit, Kohli also decided to end his T20I career after winning the Player of the Match award in the World Cup final against South Africa. The legendary batter finished with impressive numbers in T20Is. In 125 matches, he amassed 4,188 runs at an average of 48.70 and a strike rate of 137.04. The former India skipper has more half-centuries (38) than any other batter in the format.

4. Dean Elgar

Dean Elgar. (Photo Source; X(Twitter)

Dean Elgar was the first international cricketer to retire in 2024. His last appearance was the second Test between South Africa and India at Newlands, Cape Town. The former South African red-ball skipper played 86 Test matches and scored 5,347 runs at an average of 37.65. He notched up 23 half-centuries and 14 tons during his Test career. Mainly considered as a red-ball specialist, Elgar played only eight ODIs but failed to make a mark.

5. Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Shikhar Dhawan is one of India’s best openers in ODI cricket. He played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is during his illustrious career. He averaged 40.61, 44.11, and 27.92 across the three formats, respectively. Dhawan had not played a Test match since 2018 and a T20I since 2021. However, he remained a regular starter in the ODI format till December 2022. With the emergence of talented youngsters like Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan, the selectors began to ignore the Delhi batter. He announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket in August. However, he continues to ply his trade in franchise leagues around the globe.

6. Dawid Malan

Dawid Malan (Twitter)

Dawid Malan also retired from international cricket in August. He was a late bloomer, who made his international debut at the age of 29. However, the southpaw made some excellent contributions, especially in the white-ball formats for England. Malan played 22 Tests, 30 ODIs, and 62 T20Is in his career and averaged 27.54, 55.77, and 36.38, respectively.

7. Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik. (Source – Twitter/X)

Dinesh Karthik could have played a lot more matches in a different era for the Indian team, but the presence of MS Dhoni meant that his opportunities were few and far between. The 39-year-old played 26 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 60 T20Is for the Men in Blue. He announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket after playing in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Tamil Nadu cricketer will become the first Indian cricketer to play in South Africa’s SA20 in 2025.

8. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo Source – Twitter/X)

Ravichandran Ashwin dropped a bombshell after the third Test between India and Australia in Brisbane in December, when he announced his retirement from international cricket. The legendary off-spinner finished with 537 wickets from 106 Tests at an average of 24.01. He is the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Test matches, only behind Anil Kumble. Ashwin also played 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is in which he picked up 156 and 72 wickets, respectively. The 38-year-old is going to represent Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025.

9. Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan. (Source – Getty Images)

Shakib Al Hasan is hailed by many as Bangladesh’s greatest cricketer of all time. He retired from T20Is and Tests this year but will continue playing in ODI cricket. The legendary all-rounder played 129 T20Is and scored 2,551 runs, the most in the format for his country. He picked up 149 wickets, which is also the most by a Bangladeshi cricketer. In Tests, he scored over 4,000 runs and bagged 240 wickets.

10. James Anderson

James Anderson (Twitter)

James Anderson is arguably the greatest red-ball pacer of all time. No other fast bowler has picked up more Test wickets (704) than Anderson. He has played 188 Test matches in his career, second only to Sachin Tendulkar, who played 200 games for India. Anderson averaged 26.46 with the ball in the longest format. He also played 194 ODIs and 19 T20Is, picking up 269 and 18 wickets, respectively. Anderson played his final Test at his home ground, Lord’s, against the West Indies in July.