Former Indian batsman Hrishikesh Kanitkar has finally drawn curtains on his cricket career after conceding defeat in his battle with fitness issues.
The 40-year-old batsman, who played two Tests and 34 ODIs for India, can look back on a career that saw him hit match-winning six against Saqlain Mushtaq in the side's memorable win over Pakistan at Dhaka in January 1998.
Kanitkar revealed that although the passion for batting was still there, the motivation to be on the ground fielding for long stretches of time didn't really exist, ESPNcricinfo reported.
Explaining his decision to retire, the Pune-born player insisted that he didn't want fielding to be a formality, adding that he shouldn't be pushing himself for a place in a side if he is not able to give as much as a youngster is giving in the field.
However, Kanitkar emerged as one of the prolific batsman in domestic cricket, ending his career as one of only three batsmen to have scored 8000-plus runs in the Ranji Trophy.
Kanitkar, who also played as a handy off-spinner, has scored 28 Ranji centuries and captained Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh in the domestic circuit.
Commenting on his future prospects, Kanitkar also said that he is keen on either taking up coaching assignments or as a cricket analyst in the near future.