As 2024 wraps up, it leaves behind a bunch of unforgettable cricket moments. India took home the T20 World Cup, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) celebrated their third IPL title, and Joe Root became England's top Test run-scorer, surpassing Sir Alastair Cook. It was a year full of victories, but it also had its share of emotional goodbyes as some legendary players hung up their boots.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the iconic Indian off-spinner, caught everyone off guard by announcing his retirement from international cricket after the third Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane. This news came as a surprise, especially since it overshadowed the earlier retirements of Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rohit Sharma from T20Is, which they decided on right after India's T20 World Cup win in Barbados.

For cricket fans, 2024 will be a year of mixed feelings. It saw the farewells of greats like James Anderson, Shikhar Dhawan, Tim Southee, Dinesh Karthik, and David Warner. While some players stepped away from international cricket altogether, others opted to retire from certain formats, signaling the end of an era in the game.

Check out the cricketers who hung up their boots from one or more formats of international cricket in 2024:

Ravichandran Ashwin (global cricket)

At 38, Ashwin decided to hang up his boots right after the Gabba Test against Australia. The announcement came as a surprise during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, totally catching everyone off guard. He wrapped up his incredible international journey with 765 wickets across all formats, including a stellar 537 in Tests. This makes him India's second-highest wicket-taker in international cricket, just behind the legendary Anil Kumble.

Even though he's stepping back from the international scene, Ashwin's talent is still very much alive. Fans can still catch him showcasing his skills in club cricket and the IPL. However, his absence from international cricket will definitely be felt. Known as the "scientist" of the game, Ashwin's exit signals the end of an era filled with creativity, intelligence, and extraordinary talent.

Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rohit Sharma in T20Is

Right after India pulled off an exciting win against South Africa in the T20 World Cup final in Barbados, Kohli dropped the bombshell of his retirement from T20Is during the post-match chat. At 36, he wrapped up his impressive T20I journey with 4,188 runs over 125 matches, boasting an incredible average of 48.69. Kohli, a two-time Player of the Tournament in the 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups, has truly made a legendary mark on the game.

In a surprising twist, just moments later, Rohit and Jadeja also announced their retirements from T20Is, leaving the stage on a high note. Rohit, with 159 T20Is and 4,231 runs to his name, is one of the top scorers in the format. On the other hand, Jadeja, known for his all-round skills, played in 74 T20Is, scoring 515 runs and taking 54 wickets.

Shikhar Dhawan (across all formats of cricket)

Shikhar Dhawan called it a day on his international cricket career in August 2024, wrapping up an impressive journey. The stylish left-handed batsman piled up 2,315 runs in Tests, 6,793 in ODIs, and 1,579 in T20Is, with 17 centuries in ODIs and seven in Tests. Known for his aggressive style at the top of the batting order, Dhawan was crucial in many of India's successes in limited-overs cricket. He had a special talent for stepping up during ICC tournaments, with standout performances that fans still remember, especially his brilliance in the 2013 and 2017 Champions Trophy.

Dinesh Karthik (across all game formats)

Dinesh Karthik shared his retirement news just a few days after IPL 2024 wrapped up. In a heartfelt post on Instagram, he expressed, "I've made the decision to step away from representative cricket. I’m officially retiring and leaving my playing days behind as I prepare for new challenges ahead."

Karthik played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2024, which led to some buzz about him possibly rejoining India's T20 World Cup squad thanks to his standout performances as a finisher. Unfortunately, that chance didn’t come through. Throughout his career, Karthik played in 26 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 60 T20Is for India, accumulating over 3,000 runs on the international stage.

Siddharth Kaul (in all game formats)

Siddharth Kaul decided to hang up his cricket boots in November 2024, wrapping up a solid 17-year journey in the sport. At 34, the fast bowler played in three ODIs and three T20Is for India. He was also a crucial part of the U19 World Cup-winning team in 2008, alongside future legends like Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja.

James Anderson is a prominent figure in international cricket

England's James Anderson, often hailed as one of the best fast bowlers ever, said goodbye to international cricket after the Test match at Lord's against the West Indies. He wrapped up his remarkable career as the third-highest wicket-taker in Test history, trailing only Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.

In a touching tribute, Anderson's family rang the famous Lord's bell as he took the field for the last time, signaling the close of a significant chapter in the history of cricket.

David Warner (global cricket)

David Warner kicked off the retirement announcements this year, wrapping up an incredible career after his last Test match against Pakistan in Sydney. The explosive left-handed batsman played for Australia in 112 Tests, 161 ODIs, and 110 T20Is, racking up a remarkable total of 18,995 runs across all formats.

As a key player in Australian cricket, Warner was instrumental in the team's successes, including winning the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2021 T20 World Cup, solidifying his status as one of the game's modern legends.

Neil Wagner (international cricket)

Neil Wagner, the passionate left-arm fast bowler, announced his retirement from international cricket in February 2024, right before the series against Australia. He wrapped up his career as New Zealand's fifth-highest wicket-taker in Tests, claiming 260 wickets at an impressive average of 27.

Wagner was known for his fierce competitiveness and relentless work ethic, boasting a strike rate of 52, which is only behind the legendary Sir Richard Hadlee (50) among Kiwis with over 100 Test wickets.

Over his career, he played in 64 Tests, winning 32 of them, and took 143 wickets at an exceptional average of 22 in those wins. He was a crucial part of New Zealand's squad that clinched the World Test Championship title in 2021.

Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir (international cricket)

Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir from Pakistan announced their retirements from international cricket in December 2024, closing the chapter on two significant careers. Imad kicked off his international journey in May 2015 against Zimbabwe, going on to play 55 ODIs and 75 T20Is for the national team. As a skilled all-rounder, he scored 1,540 runs and took 117 wickets in a total of 130 international matches.

On the other hand, Amir, who is 32, made his first appearance for Pakistan in June 2009. He played in 36 Tests, 61 ODIs, and 62 T20Is throughout his career. Renowned for his incredible swing and calmness in tough situations, Amir ended up with 271 international wickets and contributed 1,179 runs across all formats.

Tim Southee (Tests)

Tim Southee, the New Zealand fast bowler, has officially hung up his boots from Test cricket following the end of the three-match series against England. Throughout his career, he played 107 Test matches, bagging 391 wickets with an impressive average of 30.26. Since his debut in 2008, Southee has been a key player in New Zealand's bowling lineup across all formats, participating in four ICC Cricket World Cups, seven T20 World Cups, two Champions Trophy events, and a World Test Championship (WTC) Final.

He was instrumental in New Zealand's victory in the first-ever ICC WTC (2019-21), taking 56 wickets at a remarkable average of 20 during the two-year tournament. His standout performance in the WTC Final at Southampton, where he claimed five wickets, was crucial in leading the team to a historic win..

Dawid Malan (international cricket)

Dawid Malan, who once held the top spot as the ICC T20I batter, is one of the rare England players to have hit centuries in all three formats of international cricket. He made his debut in 2017 and quickly gained a reputation for his smooth batting style and reliable performance across the board.

Shannon Gabriel (international cricket)

West Indies fast bowler Gabriel revealed he’s hanging up his boots from international cricket in August 2024. At 36, he has played 59 Tests, 25 ODIs, and two T20Is for the West Indies, taking a total of 202 wickets. He boasts the fourth-best match figures for a West Indian, with an impressive 13/121, achieved against Sri Lanka back in June 2018.

Moeen Ali (international cricket)

Moeen Ali, the versatile England cricketer, revealed his retirement from international cricket in September 2024. Since his debut in 2014, he racked up 6,678 runs on the international stage. On top of that, he took 366 wickets and played a key role in England's victories at the 2019 Cricket World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Shakib Al Hasan (T20Is)

Shakib, often hailed as one of the best cricketers from Bangladesh, called it quits on T20Is in 2024 but plans to stick around for ODIs until the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. He racked up over 4000 runs and took 240 wickets in Tests, while in T20Is, he scored 2251 runs and claimed 149 wickets.

It's worth mentioning that Shakib might have also stepped away from Tests since he had announced his last game would be against South Africa in Mirpur. Unfortunately, he didn't make it to that match due to protests happening back home.

Mahmudullah (T20Is)

Mahmudullah, the former captain of Bangladesh, has called it quits on T20Is after playing more than 130 matches, making him the second-highest run-scorer for the country in that format. He also picked up 40 wickets during his T20I career. Currently, he’s looking to keep playing ODIs for Bangladesh.

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