Bhubaneswar: A day after former Odisha cricket team captain Haladhar Das decided to hang up his boots, former Ranji player Natraj Behera announced his retirement from all forms of cricke
t on Monday.
In a letter to the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA), he attributed his decision to underperformance and fitness issues. “The OCA had high expectations from me. I have not been able to perform well for the last several months. There are some fitness issues too. I have informed the OCA about my retirement in a letter,” said Natraj.
Born on May 28, 1988, in Rourkela, he has scored 3031 runs in 54 first-class matches. It was under his captaincy that East Zone lifted its first Duleep Trophy in 2011-12 defeating Central Zone.
The East Zone repeated the feat the following year by defeating West Zone.
Natraj also captained Western Samurais Rourkela in OPL-1 and his team had won the inaugural edition. He led Baitarani side in OPL-2 played in 2013.
With the highest score of 255, he has scored eight centuries and 11 half-centuries in his cricketing career.
“I will do my best for the betterment of the OCA if given any responsibility,” he added.