Rubel Hossain has announced his retirement from international cricket

 Veteran Bangladeshi fast bowler Rubel Hossain has announced his retirement from international cricket. The 36-year-old Rubel shared this news with his 3.5 million followers on Facebook, announcing his decision to bring an end to his journey spanning 159 international matches. Rubel played his final international match—a T20 International against the New Zealand national cricket team—in Auckland in April 2021. Since then, he had been battling persistent injuries, which significantly limited his participation even in domestic cricket.

For Bangladeshi fans, Rubel's most memorable performance will undoubtedly remain the match played against England in Adelaide during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. In that contest, he dismissed both Ian Bell and captain Eoin Morgan within the span of just four deliveries; subsequently, by sending Stuart Broad and James Anderson back to the pavilion, he finished with figures of 4 wickets for 53 runs—a bowling spell that proved to be match-winning.

Rubel wrote, I am Rubel Hossain, a fast bowler. I have played 27 Tests, 104 ODIs, and 28 T20 Internationals for Bangladesh. The national team has been my passion, but there comes a time when one must bid farewell to international cricket. It is with this sentiment that I have made this decision. However, I will continue to play domestic cricket." Expressing his gratitude to his family, friends, the media, and his fans, he also expressed hope for their continued support in the future.

Rubel Hossain Career

Rubel's international journey began in 2009, when the then-Bangladesh fast bowling coach, Champaka Ramanayake, discovered him during a nationwide talent hunt. With his slingy action and speeds reaching up to 140 km/h, Rubel quickly made a name for himself. In his very ODI debut against Sri Lanka, he claimed 4 wickets for 33 runs to guide Bangladesh to victory, becoming the first bowler to achieve this feat. He did not find as much success in Test cricket—taking 36 wickets in 27 matches at an average of 76.77—but he proved to be highly effective in the limited-overs formats.

In the ODI format, Rubel established himself as one of Bangladesh's most reliable bowlers, taking 129 wickets in 104 matches at an average of 34.31. His record includes seven instances of taking four wickets in an innings and one instance of taking five wickets. His performance against New Zealand in 2013—where he took 6 wickets for 26 runs, including a hat-trick—stands as one of the standout achievements of his career. Interestingly, just one week prior to this, he had also taken a hat-trick in a domestic match, although he hadn't even realized it at the time.

Rohit Sharma Update: 3 players could replace Rohit Sharma against Punjab

Mumbai Indians have suffered a major setback ahead of their next match. The team is scheduled to face Punjab Kings in their upcoming fixture, and there is a strong possibility that Mumbai Indians' star opener, Rohit Sharma, will be unable to play in this game. Rohit sustained a hamstring injury during the previous match against RCB, which forced him to leave the field and return to the pavilion in the middle of his innings. Consequently, the biggest question now is which player will be given the opportunity to take Rohit Sharma's place in the match against Punjab Kings. We are going to name three players who could step in to replace Rohit in this match.

Quinton de Kock

Quinton de Kock could be the best option to open the innings for Mumbai Indians in place of Rohit Sharma. He possesses considerable experience playing in the IPL and has already amassed over 3,300 runs in the tournament. Consequently, he could prove to be an excellent replacement for Rohit Sharma. De Kock is renowned for his aggressive batting style.

The 33-year-old De Kock has played for several franchises in the IPL and has delivered some exceptional innings over the past few years. However, to incorporate him into the squad, MI would need to make certain adjustments to their combination of overseas players. To accommodate De Kock in the team, either Mitchell Santner or Trent Boult might have to sit out.

Naman Dheer

Another player who could open the innings in place of Rohit Sharma is Naman Dhir. Naman Dhir was part of the Mumbai Indians' Playing 11 in the previous match; therefore, there is a strong possibility that he will retain his spot in the Playing XI for this match as well. Should the situation demand it, he is also capable of opening the innings. This 26-year-old player has played 27 IPL matches so far, in which he has scored 451 runs at a strike rate of over 176. He could prove to be a key player in Mumbai's top order and is capable of batting effectively against the Punjab Kings' bowling attack.

Robin Minz

In the match against Punjab Kings, the Mumbai Indians team might give Robin Minz an opportunity in place of Rohit. Minz does not possess extensive experience playing in the IPL, but he has proven his capabilities in domestic cricket. In the 2024 IPL, Gujarat Titans acquired him for ₹3.60 crore; subsequently, ahead of the 2025 IPL, Mumbai Indians inducted him into their squad for ₹65 lakh. Minz has not received many opportunities so far, having played only 7 T20 matches. Therefore, if he gets a chance in this match, he will undoubtedly be eager to deliver a stellar performance.