India, Dec. 23 -- Karnataka all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham has retired from professional cricket, bringing down the curtain on a domestic career that stretched nearly 15 years and made him one of the state's most reliable all-rounders.

The 37-year-old announced his decision at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru at the Karnataka State Cricket Association farewell, saying he did not want to occupy a place that could belong to a young cricketer.

Gowtham signed off with 394 wickets and 2,783 runs for Karnataka across formats, a summary of his value in India's domestic grind. In first-class cricket, he played 59 matches, taking 224 wickets at 27.25, including 14 five-wicket hauls and two match ten-fers, while also scoring 1,418 runs wit...