Indian domestic cricket: Karnataka stalwart R Vinay Kumar shifts to Puducherry

Former India seam bowler R Vinay Kumar has left his home state of Karnataka ahead of the 2019-20 Indian domestic season, choosing to join Puducherry as one of their professional players.

Vinay, who led Karnataka to the domestic treble in 2013-14 and 2014-15, exits the Karnataka setup at the age of 35 and after 14 seasons.

He leaves with a proud record: 410 first-class wickets for Karnataka at 22.2o apiece, by far the most for any bowler from the state, and with 21 five-wicket hauls in an innings; 121 at 19.69 in List A cricket; and 54 at 21.70 in T20s.

With the bat, he scored 2582 runs at 22.25 for Karnataka, inclusive of two centuries and 12 fifties. From 68 List A matches, he averaged a superb 30.06 with four half-centuries with a best of 82. In 49 T20s for Karnataka, he averaged 17.81 with a best of 38.

Vinay made his first-class debut for Karnataka in the 2004-05 season and played his last match for them in January 2019. His breakout seasons was 2007-08 when he finished the Ranji Trophy as the second-highest wicket-taker, and in 2009-10 he starred with 46 to help Karnataka to their first Ranji final in 11 seasons.

During this time, he broke into the Indian cricket team and played 31 ODIs, nine T20Is and one Test from 2010 to 2013.

Vinay now moves to Puducherry, who in their maiden Ranji Trophy season in 2018-19 finished third in the Plate League.