Bad new for Australian fans just before the T20I World Cup, THIS former RCB star player announces retirement, name is…
A very shocking and upsetting news for the Australian fans has surfaced that too just before the upcoming T20I world cup. Kane Richardson has announced his professional retirement at age 34.He has played 25 ODIs and 36 T20I matches for Australia and was a member of the team that won the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Richardson first played List-A cricket in the 2008-09 season for Northern Territory and South Australia. His international career began with an ODI match against Sri Lanka in 2013, which marked his initial foray onto the world stage. That debut was a big step for him.
Richardson’s decorated BBL career
He has played in every BBL season of his professional BBL career. This involved six seasons with the Adelaide Strikers and his move in 2017-18 to the Melbourne Renegades, where he was for eight seasons. He is now joining the Sydney Sixers on a one-year contract for the 2025-26 season.
He holds the fifth place in the competition for the most wickets, with 142 career wickets. This is some good data that puts his standing into proper perspective. It is clear that while he is quite good, there are a few ahead of him. Knowing this provides a clearer picture of his current rank. Richardson played around the world, taking part in various tournaments with different teams, such as the Indian Premier League (IPL).
A heartfelt farewell as Richardson reflects on life in cricket
“From making my debut back in 2009 until now, I feel like I have squeezed every drop out of myself and it is the right time to finish such an enjoyable part of my life,” a statement from Richardson read.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to represent my country, along with many franchise teams around the world, and in Australia. I have never taken the opportunity lightly and I hope people watching knew that I had dreamt about being a cricketer since I was a kid in Darwin,” it read further.
Richardson International and IPL stats
Kane Richardson has carved out a reputation as a reliable white-ball specialist for Australia, particularly known for his clever variations and death-over expertise. Over his international career, which spanned from 2013 to 2023, he represented Australia in 25 ODIs and 36 T20Is.
In the 50-over format, he claimed 39 wickets with a career-best of 5/68 against India, while in T20Is, he bagged 45 wickets at an impressive strike rate of 16.8, including a best of 4/30. A key member of Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup-winning squad, he officially retired from professional cricket in January 2026, ending a decorated 17-year journey.
In the IPL, Richardson was a tactical asset across several seasons for Pune Warriors India, Rajasthan Royals, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Appearing in 15 matches, he picked up 19 wickets at an average of 24.84 and a strike rate of 17.63.
His standout IPL performance remains his 3/13 for RCB against Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016. Though he was often a backup to the “big three” of Aussie pace (Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood), his ability to nail yorkers and change-ups made him a highly respected figure in the franchise circuit.