Saikiran Uppuluri
Saikiran Uppuluri
Kenyan cricket stalwart Collins Obuya has bid farewell to the international stage, retiring after a remarkable career that spanned nearly a quarter-century. His decision to retire was announced following Kenya’s final match at the African Games, where they suffered a defeat to Uganda in the bronze medal match in Accra.
Obuya’s final innings for Kenya, though brief as he was bowled for a duck in the first over, was a testament to his enduring skill and determination. At 42 years old, he had shown no signs of slowing down, having scored three consecutive half-centuries earlier in the tournament. His retirement came as a surprise to many, but as he raised his bat in farewell, both teammates and opponents alike acknowledged his remarkable career.
Obuya’s journey in cricket began over 25 years ago when he represented Kenya at the 1998 Under-19 World Cup. He made his debut for the senior team two years later in a First Class match against a touring Pakistan A side. Playing alongside his brothers David and Kennedy, as well as other legends of the Associate game, Obuya was instrumental in Kenya’s historic run to the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup.
A specialist leg-spinner in his early days, Obuya’s highlight came when he claimed 5 for 24 against Sri Lanka, including the prized wickets of Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, and Aravinda de Silva. His performances earned him a county contract with Warwickshire, making him the first Kenyan international to achieve this feat. Despite facing challenges with injuries and illness, Obuya persevered and returned to the national side as a batting all-rounder, a role he would excel in for the next two decades.
One of Obuya’s proudest moments with the bat came at the 2011 World Cup, where he scored an unbeaten 98 against Australia. Despite Kenya’s decline in subsequent years, Obuya continued to lead the side with pride, eventually retiring from ODIs in 2014 after playing 104 matches and scoring 2044 runs.
Reflecting on his career, Obuya expressed gratitude to his teammates and family for their support. He plans to focus on coaching cricket back home and is proud of the legacy he leaves behind. His contributions to Kenyan cricket have been immense, and he will be remembered as one of the country’s greatest cricketers.
