Gautam Gambhir, the hero of India's World T20 win in 2007 and ICC World Cup in 2011, has announced retirement from cricket on Tuesday.
The Ranji Trophy fixture between Delhi and Andhra starting Thursday at the Feroz Shah Kotla will be his last game.
The 37-year-old southpaw has played 58 Tests, 147 ODIs and 37 T20Is for India scoring more than 10,000 runs.
In 58 Tests, between 2004 and 2016, he scored 4154 runs at an average of 41.95, with the help of nine hundreds and 22 fifties.
He also played in 147 ODIs between 2003 and 2013, besides featuring in 37 T20 Internationals.
"The most difficult decisions are often taken with the heaviest of hearts. And with one heavy heart, I’ve decided to make an announcement that I’ve dreaded all my life," he wrote on Twitter announcing the decision.
"Each time I got out playing for India, KKR or Delhi Daredevils, the thought (retirement) would turn into a sharp, disturbing noise. It slapped me hard when I got three ducks in a row in IPL 2014, I had a dreadful tour to England the same year.
"In 2016, I was on my knees again. I was dropped after the Rajkot Test against England. I was searching for my confidence in that deep dark bit, but I could only lay my hands on the same sharp disturbing noise. It said the same, 'It is over, Gauti'.
"I wanted to beat this noise. I punished my body over more. The early morning runs got longer, my personal trainers were instructed to be severe on me. I ate as if I was bankrupt. In these times, your love and affection worked as steroids. I wanted to win again, conquer again. After a decent domestic season in 2017, I entered this year's IPL with confidence as my best buddy. I thought all negative noises were dead. But I was wrong. Six games for Delhi Daredevils, it was back...my time was up," he announced on his Facebook page.
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