Disillusioned UAE batsman Chirag Suri takes indefinite break from cricket

Chirag Suri, the former UAE vice-captain, is taking an indefinite break from cricket after becoming disillusioned with the sport.

The 28-year-old batter was among the leading run-scorers in one-day International cricket in the world last year.

Of UAE batters, only Vriitya Aravind managed more than Suri’s aggregate of 586 ODI runs across the calendar year, a haul which included two centuries.

However, Suri has played just two ODIs for the national team since a portentous Cricket World Cup League 2 series in Scotland in August 2022.

He played at the T20 World Cup in Australia last year, but lost his place in the side for the last game, only to return for those two ODIs against Namibia in February.

He has also been conspicuous by his absence from the roster of 90 players involved in the International League T20 development tournament, which will reach its conclusion in Dubai on Tuesday.

That competition is a shop window for players to show their skills to the six franchises of the main DP World ILT20, but Suri opted out of participating.

Suri played for Dubai Capitals, alongside the likes of Robin Uthappa, Rovman Powell and Adam Zampa, during the inaugural ILT20 season at the start of this year.

His sporadic appearances since have been in part due to a hamstring injury. He says he felt neglected during his recuperation, and fell out of love for the game in the months after.

He walked away from his central contract this summer, and has turned his attention to real estate development in his time away from the sport.

Chirag Suri remains the only UAE cricketer to be a part of an IPL team - Gujrat Lions in 2017. Photo by Surjeet Kumar

He says the atmosphere surrounding the national team fueled his disillusionment with the