Chris Morris, IPL’s Most Expensive Buy, Retires From All forms Of Cricket
Mumbai: South African all-rounder Chris Morris has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket at the age of 34.
Announcing his decision to retire after a career spanning 12 years, the 34-year-old Morris also said that he will take up a coaching role with South Africa’s home team Titans. Also Read: Tata Group Replaces Chinese Mobile Manufacturer VIVO As IPL Title Sponsor
“Thanks to all who have played a part in my journey whether it be big or small…it’s been a fun ride!,” Morris’ Instagram caption read.
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Morris last represented South Africa during the 2019 ODI World Cup, a tournament where he was South Africa’s highest wicket-taker. He took 94 wickets for his country 69 times in all three formats.
Morris’s all-rounder skills meant that he was in high demand in T20 leagues, especially in the IPL auctions. He played only one T20I when Chennai Super Kings bid him $US625,000, which was 31 times his base price of $US20,000. In the IPL 2016 auction, Delhi Daredevils bought him for INR 7 crores (approximately US$1.04 million). Then in the IPL 2020 auction, Royal Challengers Bangalore placed a bid of INR 10 crores (approximately US$1.4 million) for him.
Finally, in the IPL 2021 auction, Rajasthan Royals broke the bank by placing a bid of INR 16.25 crores (approximately US$2.24 million) for him.
Royals’ bid in 2021 made Morris the most expensive player ever in the IPL auction, although he was not the highest-paid player, Virat Kohli was paid Rs 17 crore by Royal Challengers from IPL 2018 to 2021.
In ODIs, Morris played 42 matches and took 48 wickets at an average of 36.58 and an economy rate of 5.56. His batting average of 20.30 did not show off his prowess as a batsman, but his strike rate of 100.43 showed his potential to be a gamechanger with the bat.
However, Morris leaves behind his biggest legacy in the shortest format. He played 234 T20Is including 23 for South Africa between 2012 and 2019. In all T20s, he took 290 wickets at an average of 22.21 and an economy of 7.78, while the bat finished with a strike rate of 150.04.
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