5 legendary cricketers who retired when they were in their prime

#2 Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly retired from the sport in controversial circumstances

Former captain Sourav Ganguly is one of the few Indian cricketers who retired at the top of their game, although it wasn't exactly on his terms.

Dada played his last ODI for India in November 2007 and in that calendar year, he averaged 44.28 in 32 ODIs and scored 1,240 runs along with 12 fifties. Ganguly was the fifth-highest run-scorer in 2007 in the 50-over format, but an embarrassing exit from the World Cup and the controversial tenure of Greg Chappell ensured that he didn't play for the country in the colours again.

Not only ODIs, the Prince of Kolkata had a splendid 2007 in the longest format of the game, and was named in the ICC Test XI for his 1,106 runs at an average of 61.44, along with 3 centuries and 4 fifties. Even in 2008, Ganguly was solid, scoring 5 fifties and 1 hundred in 13 Tests.

Although his final Test series wasn't his best, it almost seemed like Ganguly had been forced out of the national side with little reason. The current BCCI President had a lot more to give and wasn't anywhere near as unfit or slow as he was portrayed to be in the media.

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#1 AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers has teased an international comeback but it seems less likely by the day

Cricket fans are yet to recover from the rude shock that was AB de Villiers' international retirement. While being at the top of his game in all three formats, De Villiers walked away from the sport in 2018, citing tiredness and a lack of motivation.

In his last year in international cricket, Mr. 360 averaged 52.18 in ODIs, and scored 5 fifties and 2 hundred en route to 835 runs. His career high of 176 in the format also came in this period against Bangladesh. In Tests, De Villiers was even better. He averaged 53.15 (3 points above his career average), and also managed 7 fifties and 1 century.

It has been speculated that the former South Africa captain took the 2015 World Cup semi-final loss against New Zealand a little too harshly, but his decision to leave the Proteas high and dry ahead of the 2019 World Cup (their campaign was disastrous) was questioned by all.

South African limited-overs captain Quinton de Kock recently spoke in favour of De Villiers' return to international cricket for the T20 World Cup, but the postponement of the tournament owing to the pandemic has thrown a spanner in the works.

AB de Villiers' stint at Royal Challengers Bangalore might be the last we see of one of cricket's most gifted talents.