'Like a biscuit packet, every player has a best before tag': Former India cricketer weighs in as stars retire early from international cricket

Nicholas Pooran retires from international cricket at 29. (Agencies Photo)

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NEW DELHI: Former India opener Aakash Chopra has weighed in on the growing trend of players retiring early from international cricket, calling it both surprising and understandable.Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra admitted that while fans may be stunned to see players like Heinrich Klaasen and Nicholas Pooran step away in their prime, the decision often comes down to basic financial security and long-term planning.“Everyone is retiring. What exactly is happening?” Chopra asked rhetorically. “Who retires so early? Some are leaving formats, some quitting international cricket entirely. Even top names like Kane Williamson are walking away from central contracts.”Chopra painted a blunt but empathetic picture of the cricketer’s reality, comparing a player’s career to a perishable item. “Like a biscuit packet, every player has a 'best before' tag. If you don’t maximise your career in that window, when it ends, you’re left with nothing but family and fading memories.”He argued that the choice to become T20 freelancers is not one of greed but survival. “If someone like Klaasen or Pooran can earn in four years what they would’ve made in ten for their country, who are we to judge? They want a secure and happy retirement, and this path offers that.”Chopra acknowledged that Indian fans, used to their stars earning big under a wealthy BCCI umbrella, may not relate to the struggles of players from poorer cricketing nations.“People don’t understand that players in some countries have to drive taxis or work as plumbers after retirement.”He also took aim at cricket boards, blaming some of them for lacking empathy or financial muscle. “Boards like West Indies have been embroiled in ego clashes. If you're not accommodating, a player is bound to leave.”Ultimately, Chopra urged fans to view these early retirements not as betrayals of national duty, but as personal decisions grounded in a harsh sporting reality.

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