Venkatapathy Raju announces retirement

Former India spinner Venkatapathy Raju, who is leading the Hyderabad Ranji team in the ongoing match against Uttar Pradesh, announced his retirement from first class cricket on Wednesday.

Sagi Lakshmi Venkatapathy Raju, who made his Test debut against New Zealand in 1989-90, played 53 Tests and took 93 wickets with 6 for 12 being his best.

Nicknamed 'Muscles', he claimed 63 wickets in the one-day internationals with 4 for 46 being his best during his six year international cricketing career.

Also called 'Lachchi' by his close friends, Raju is only the second player after Kanwaljit Singh to play 100 first class matches for Hyderabad.

The left arm spinner has so far played 102 first class matches and claimed 367 wickets. His 100th match against Maharashtra was incidentally the 100th cricket match played at the Gymkhana grounds.

Hyderabad has to play two more matches in the season.