Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 7: Hailing from Jammu and Kashmir’s Bhaderwah, ace cricketer, Ian Dev Singh Chouhan, a veteran cricketer has announced his retirement from all forms of domestic and national cricket here today.
Serving the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) for over a decade, the 34-year-old cricketer retired in almost all the formats of domestic cricket including First Class (Ranji Trophy), List A (Vijay Hazare Trophy) and T20 (Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy), besides age group formats, apart from representing the State and Union Territory.
The statement said that Ian has the distinction of representing North Zone team in the prestigious Duleep Trophy and scoring a masterful 145 runs and that innings won the hearts of the legends of the game in the country as that knock eclipsed everyone’s innings in that tournament including that of Unmuk Chand’s century in the same match.
The Ian Dev has played the highest number of First Class matches (93) for Jammu and Kashmir, Sri Lanka, scoring the highest number of runs (5558), slamming the highest number of centuries (17) and the highest number of fifties (24), besides serving his teams in all the capacities A Captain, a Vice Captain, a Player, a Batter, a bowler, a Fielder and a Wicketkeeper.
Ian has scored 5558 runs in 93 matches of First Class Cricket with an average of around 38 runs and a highest score of 170 runs, besides scoring 1627 runs in 72 matches of List A Cricket with an average of around 25 runs and a highest score of 112 runs and 876 runs in 48 matches of T20 Cricket with an average of around 20 runs and a highest score of unbeaten 75 runs.
The gutsy Ian is the only cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir who has represented India in U-19 Commonwealth Cricket held in India in the year 2005, with South Africa, West Indies, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka being the other participating countries along with India. The stylish Ian is also the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to take part in Sri Lankan First Class Cricket.
“Would like to thank BCCI and JKCA in providing me opportunities to play at the highest level. Taking this opportunity I convey my sincere gratitude to all my coaches, mentors, teammates and the support staff. Special thanks to Rajan Sir and Apoorva Desai Sir in shaping my game. Thank you dad for always supporting me when no one did. Thank you!,” posted Ian in social media site.
“Ian Dev Singh senior cricketer and ex- Captain of JKCA Ranji team has retired from all forms of domestic and national cricket. A prolific stroke maker and a reliable batsman, Ian Dev had been the mainstay of JKCA Seniors team. JKCA wishes him all the best,” tweeted Brig Anil Gupta, Member-Administration JKCA.
Speaking Exclusively to Excelsior, former cricketer and member JKCA, Mithun Manhas said, “Ian Dev Singh is an exceptional cricketer of Jammu and Kashmir, who played well in last season as well,”
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