Abu Nechim, a former under-19 World Cup player and Assam’s initial IPL representative before Riyan Parag, has declared his retirement from all forms of cricket.
In a statement posted on his Instagram, Abu Nechim announced his decision to retire from all forms and levels of cricket. He stated, “I have come to the conclusion to step away from the sport that I have loved so deeply. I want to use this opportunity to express my gratitude to the BCCI and the Assam Cricket Association.”
At the age of 17, Nechim made his first-class debut for Assam and went on to join the India U19 team. He demonstrated his exceptional swing bowling skills in the 2006 Men’s U19 World Cup semi-final against England, finishing with impressive figures of 4-14. He concluded his U19 career with a dominant performance, taking 6 wickets for 9 runs against Bangladesh in the tri-series final.
Nechim also expressed gratitude for the support of his two IPL teams, Mumbai Indians and RCB. He reflected on his 23-year journey playing cricket, including its ups and downs, and expressed his gratitude for the support he received from his family and all those who have wished him well.
He added, “The past 23 years have been a fantastic adventure filled with experiences and lessons at different levels of the sport. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my family and everyone who has supported me throughout this beautiful journey.”
Nechim was a member of the Mumbai Indians for four seasons beginning in 2010, where he was part of the championship-winning team in 2013. In addition to playing for the Mumbai Indians, he was a regular player for the Assam senior team in domestic cricket.
Nechim represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL from 2014 to 2016. He made history as the first player from Assam to participate in the IPL, taking a total of 12 wickets from 17 games with an economy rate of 8.69.
Throughout his career, Nechim has taken 172 wickets from 68 first-class games, 65 from 61 List-A games, and 78 from 80 T20 matches. During the most recent domestic cricket season, the 34-year-old, now playing for Nagaland, led the team to the elite division of the Ranji Trophy and claimed 5 wickets in a shortened season.