Hyderabad: The year 2020 was one of the most unusual years in the history of mankind. We were severed with a pandemic that lasted for over a year and a lockdown attached to it which was there for almost half of the year.
The year was also a bit weird for sports lovers as they had to distance themselves from the game as sporting events across the world were shut down due to a raging pandemic. Fans were shut out of the stadium and the tournaments went through pangs of uncertainty despite being encapsulated in bio-bubbles.
It won't be wrong to say that this pandemic forced many legendary players of the game to retire. Today, we will take you through the list of players who hang their shoes in 2020.
1. Iker Casillas
Spain’s World Cup-winning captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas announced his retirement from the professional game at the age of 39. The former Real Madrid skipper had called time on his five-year spell with side Porto in July after his contract with the Portuguese club expired.
Casillas had suffered a heart attack during a training session last year and has not played any competitive football since April 2019.
2. Maria Sharapova
Five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova, one of the world's most recognisable sportswomen announced her retirement at the age of 32.
Sharapova burst onto the scene as a supremely gifted teenager and won her Grand Slams before serving a 15-month ban for failing a drugs test at the 2016 Australian Open. The Russian former world number one's ranking is currently 373rd.
3. Caroline Wozniacki
Former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki announced her retirement from the sport after losing in the third round of the Australian Open. The Dane lost to Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur 7-5, 3-6, 7-5. In the post-match interview, an emotional Wozniacki said that it was only fitting that her last match would be a three-set grinder and that she would end her career with a forehand error.
4. The Undertaker
The Undertaker gave his Final Farewell at Survivor Series, and it was a big night for his career. There were no live fans present in the Thunderdome, but there was likely a lot going through his head before he took that last walk to the ring.
The Deadman officially retired from the ring at WrestleMania 36. He made it official at Survivor Series as he gave his Final Farewell. The Last Ride docuseries told the story of how he came to this conclusion.
5. Irfan Pathan
India all-rounder Irfan Pathan announced that he will be retiring from professional cricket with immediate effect. Irfan Pathan, who made his international debut in 2003, played professional cricket for 16 years. Despite not featuring in an international fixture since 2012, Irfan was playing domestic cricket until February 2019.
6. Parthiv Patel
Parthiv Patel, one of the youngest to have played Test cricket for India at the age of 17, announced his retirement from all forms of the game, three months short of his 36th birthday.
The baby-faced Parthiv, who made his Test debut under Sourav Ganguly, at the age of 17 years and 153 days, played 65 international games for the country, which included 25 Tests, 38 ODIs and two T20 Internationals.
7. Mohammad Amir
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 28, claiming he could no longer play in an atmosphere where he did not feel welcome in the national team.
Amir, who was jailed in 2011 for his part in a spot-fixing scandal, served three months in prison and a five-year ban from all forms of cricket before returning to the Pakistan squad in January 2016.
The left-arm bowler has since excelled in limited-overs cricket, helping Pakistan to the Champions Trophy title in 2017, but last month he was dropped from the squad to tour New Zealand.
8. MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing down curtains on a near 16-year-long storied career of one of the country’s greatest limited-overs cricketers.
Dhoni retires as India’s most successful captain in limited-overs internationals, having won three ICC trophies - 2007 T20 World Cup, 50-over World Cup in 2011 and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy - the only captain to do so.
9. Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina on Saturday (August 15 2020) announced his retirement from international cricket moments after MS Dhoni hanged his boots. Raina took to social media platform Instagram to post a message for Dhoni on his retirement as he also announced that he will be joining his Chennai Super Kings skipper in this journey.
