India and Karnataka pacer Abhimanyu Mithun retires from first-class cricket; seeks other avenues in career

In
a
statement
posted
on
Instagram,
Mithun
has
decided
to
retire
to
‘pursue
other
avenues
in
my
career’.
Though
he
mentioned
retirement
from
first-class
cricket,
it
is
believed
that
he
is
retiring
from
all
formats
in
Indian
cricket.

“After
serious
thought
and
contemplation,
I,
Abhimanyu
Mithun,
have
decided
to
retire
from
first-class
cricket
in
order
to
pursue
other
avenues
in
my
career.
In
this
regard
I
would
like
to
state
as
follows:
I
have
represented
my
country
at
the
highest
level
and
will
always
be
my
biggest
achievement.
The
joy
and
pride
from
it
will
be
something
I
will
cherish
forever,”
said
Mithun.

Mithun
made
his
Test
debut
against
Sri
Lanka
in
Galle
in
2010.
In
four
Tests,
last
of
which
came
in
2011
against
West
Indies
in
Barbados,
Mithun
picked
nine
wickets
with
best
figures
of
4/105.
The
tall
right-arm
pacer
made
his
ODI
debut
against
South
Africa
in
2010.
In
five
ODIs,
last
of
which
came
against
West
Indies
in
Chennai
2011,
Mithun
picked
three
wickets.

”I
would
like
to
thank
the
BCCI
for
the
massive
role
they
have
played
throughout
my
cricketing
journey.
Their
support
has
been
invaluable.
My
cricketing
journey
would
not
have
even
started
if
it
wasn’t
for
the
State
Cricket
Association.
They
identified
me,
shaped
me
as
a
player
and
supported
me
through
my
highs
and
lows.

”It
has
been
my
honor
to
have
played
for
Karnataka
and
win
so
many
trophies
for
my
state.
I
have
made
memories
and
friends
for
life.
I
would
like
to
place
on
record
the
excellent
support
I
received
from
the
KSCA
for
almost
two
decades.”

It
was
as
a
Karnataka
pacer
where
Mithun
became
sought-after.
Mithun
was
a
member
of
the
twin
trebles
with
Karnataka,
winning
the
Ranji
Trophy,
and
in
2013/14
and
2014/15.
He
also
featured
in
16
IPL
matches
and
took
seven
wickets
while
representing
Royal
Challengers
Bangalore,
Mumbai
Indians
and
Sunrisers
Hyderabad.

“I
would
also
like
to
thank
for
having
identified
me,
nurtured
me
and
mentored
me
through
this
journey.
I
would
like
to
thank
the
IPL
teams
–
Royal
Challengers
Bangalore,
Mumbai
Indians
and
Sunrisers
Hyderabad
for
having
faith
in
me
to
represent
and
play
for
them.
I
would
like
to
thank
the
members
of
the
media
who
have
covered
my
journey
from
the
beginning
and
highlighted
my
achievements.”

In
the
2019
Vijay
Hazare
Trophy
final,
Mithun
took
a
hat-trick
in
Karnataka
winning
the
title
on
his
birthday.
A
month
later,
Mithun
picked
five
wickets
in
an
over
in
the
Syed
Mushtaq
Ali
Trophy
semifinal
against
Haryana,
which
featured
a
hat-trick
with
the
trophy
to
be
eventually
won
by
Karnataka.

“I
would
like
to
thank
my
coaches
who
have
always
encouraged
and
trusted
my
game
and
me,
my
selectors
who
have
always
put
their
faith
in
me,
the
support
staff
who
have
looked
after
me,
my
various
trainers
&
physios
who
helped
me
to
be
my
fittest
best
and
to
all
my
teammates
who
brought
out
the
best
in
me.”
Mithun
played
103
First-class
matches
for
Karnataka,
bagging
338
wickets
at
an
average
of
26.63.

He
also
featured
in
96
List
A
matches,
taking
136
wickets
at
an
average
of
28.50.
In
74
T20
matches,
Mithun
picked
69
wickets
at
an
average
of
28.72.

“Thank
you
for
everything.
None
of
this
would
have
been
possible
without
the
constant
support
and
love
of
my
family.
Cricket
is
a
universal
game
and
I
believe
in
finishing
at
the
highest
level.
So,
I
had
to
take
this
decision
and
seek
better
opportunities
for
myself
and
my
family
around
the
world.
I
am
also
clear
in
my
mind
that
Karnataka
has
abundant
fast
bowling
talent
and
they
would
miss
out
opportunities
at
the
right
time
if
I
prolong
my
career.
Thank
you,”
concluded
Mithun.