Maharashtra's Samad Fallah announces retirement from professional cricket

NEW DELHI: Samad Fallah, Maharashtra's highest wicket-taker in Ranji Trophy history, has officially retired from professional cricket. The left-arm swing bowler concluded his career with 272 Ranji wickets, 287 first-class wickets in 78 matches at an average of 28.48, as well as notable performances in limited-overs cricket.

Fallah, who played a pivotal role in Maharashtra's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win in 2010, announced his retirement via an Instagram video, reflecting on his career and expressing gratitude.

Fallah took 75 wickets in List-A cricket and 62 in T20s. His standout performance came in the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in March 2010 when he took four wickets, leading Maharashtra to their only senior-level silverware since the 1940-41 season. Another highlight of his career was his second-innings six-wicket haul on debut for Maharashtra against Himachal Pradesh in November 2007.



"Retirement is not an easy identity but had accepted it a couple of years back. Announcing it is formality... from not playing any age group to taking a fiver on debut and becoming the highest wicket-taker in Ranji Trophy for my Maharashtra... this state has given me my identity... winning the Mushtaq Ali trophy finals by taking a 4-fer to take 10 wickets in semifinals of Ranji Trophy semifinals... Thank you, MCA for trusting me... I gave my all and (am) so happy. I have played most BCCI finals for Maharashtra... and will still be with my MCA till I win Trophies for my state. I say goodbye to my bowling which is the most amazing gift I had... Thank You all."

Fallah's last official match was a Vijay Hazare Trophy game for Uttarakhand in March 2021. He had moved to Uttarakhand for the 2020-21 season but returned to Maharashtra. Although he made himself available for selection in all three formats, he did not get another opportunity to continue his career.

At 39, Fallah has transitioned into coaching and is currently the head coach for the Nashik Titans in the Maharashtra Premier League. His formal announcement of retirement marks the end of a notable career that began with eye-catching performances in tennis-ball tournaments before breaking into club cricket.

At 22, Fallah made his debut for Maharashtra, making an immediate impact. He consistently took over 20 wickets in every Ranji season from 2007-08 to 2014-15. Fallah played a crucial role in building one of the best seam attacks in Indian domestic cricket alongside Anupam Sanklecha, Domnic Muthuswami, and Shrikant Mundhe, which propelled the team to the Ranji final in 2013-14 and the semi-finals in 2014-15. His career highlight includes the semifinal in Indore in January 2014, where he took 7 for 58, helping Maharashtra bowl out Bengal for 114 in the first innings.

At the time of his retirement, Fallah ranks as the second-highest wicket-taker among left-arm fast bowlers in Ranji Trophy history. Only Jaydev Unadkat has more, with 316 wickets.
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