Nayan Mongia announces his retirement

Nayan Mongia has retired from first-class cricket © Getty Images Enlarge

Nayan Mongia, the former India Test wicketkeeper, has announced his retirement after being dropped by Baroda.

"I had already written a letter to the Baroda Cricket Association on December 14 expressing my desire to retire from first-class cricket," Mongia told reporters on Tuesday at his home in Vadodara, "but the shocking decision prompted me to take the step. I was playing well and there was no reason to exclude me from the team. I was dropped from the team even though I had a fitness certificate." In five innings this season, Mongia has failed to reach fifty once.

Mongia, who turned 35 on Sunday, played in 44 Tests with a highest score of 152 against Australia in the one-off Test at Delhi in 1996-97 when he opened the batting. His last Test was the epic victory at Kolkata also against Australia in March 2001, when India won after following on. Mongia's lowest point came when India's Central Bureau of Investigation questioned him over his alleged involvement with bookmakers, although he was later cleared of all involvement.

Mongia mostly played for Baroda and West Zone, on the Indian domestic circuit. In 183 first-class matches, starting in November 1989, he made 353 catches and 43 stumpings, and scored over 7000 runs.