‘That’s it, it’s over. I will end my career…’: RCB star cries, says he wanted to retire before this IPL.

RCB spin-bowling all-rounder Swapnil Singh considered ending his cricket career after going unsold in the first round of auctions for IPL 2024. Swapnil Singh’s maiden IPL wicket was MS Dhoni in 2016 when he was probably enjoying the best time of his career. He got his first IPL contract with the Kings XI Punjab (Now Punjab Kings) after having a breakthrough season with Baroda at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. A dream beginning, isn’t it? Yes, but it fizzled away soon. His career never quite took off in the IPL. He warmed the benches in the Mumbai Indians before getting lost in the wilderness. He was again picked up by the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2023 but got to play only two games where he went wicketless. After being released by the LSG at the end of last year’s season, Swapnil revealed he contemplated retirement. Things, however, changed when Royal Challengers Bengaluru picked him up at the auction before the 17th edition. Swapnil said it was an emotional moment for him and his family. “The day of the IPL auction I was travelling to Dharamsala for a game. It was around 7-8 pm after I landed. Nothing had happened by then and the last rounds were on. When I missed out at first, I thought that’s it. Frankly I thought it was all over,” Swapnil said. “I thought I would play out the ongoing (domestic) season, and if needed, I would end my career after playing the next season because I did not want to keep playing all my life. There are other things to do well in life as well. I was very disappointed,” Swapnil told RCB Bold Diaries. Life has never been the same for the spin-bowling all-rounder. He made his RCB debut in Hyderabad last month and has since been part of each of their six smashing wins on the trot. “As soon as my family called, we broke down. Because no one else understands how emotional the journey has been,” said the veteran cricketer, who had made his senior domestic debut back in 2006 as a teenager and also shared rooms with Virat Kohli at age-group level.