New Delhi, October 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Veteran Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal on Friday announced his retirement from first-class cricket, acknowledging that his long-held dream of playing Test cricket had remained unfulfilled. However, the spinner made it clear that he intends to continue pursuing opportunities in One-Day Internationals and T20 cricket.
Chahal, who has represented India in 72 ODIs and 80 T20Is, never earned a Test cap during his 17-year career across domestic and county cricket. His last international appearance came in a T20I against the West Indies in August 2023.
Announcing his decision in a post on Instagram, Chahal reflected on his longstanding association with red-ball cricket and the lessons it had taught him.
“The first cricket ball I ever held was a red ball. I was 10 years old, and I had no idea then how deeply I would fall in love with this game. For me, red-ball cricket was never just another format. It was where I learned the meaning of patience, character, resilience and the pure joy of being out there for hours, fighting for every run and every wicket,” he wrote.
Chahal said his final first-class match at Lord’s had been an emotional occasion, as playing Test cricket had always been a cherished ambition.
He acknowledged that the dream had not materialised but said he was content with his journey and grateful for the opportunities he had received in the format. He added that red-ball cricket had given him some of the most memorable experiences of his life.
Chahal made his first-class debut for Haryana in 2009 and finished his career in the format with 148 wickets in 49 matches at an average of 32.27.
Despite stepping away from first-class cricket, the leg-spinner said his ambition to represent India remained strong, declaring, “But I AM NOT DONE YET.”
“The hunger to play for my country is still very much alive. I believe I have the cricket left in me, and I will give everything I have to earn another opportunity in the One-Day and T20 formats,” he said.
Chahal also thanked the Haryana Cricket Association, Ranbir Singh Mahindra and Anirudh Singh Chaudhary for their continued support and faith throughout his career.
Although he was not a regular red-ball player for Haryana, Chahal’s standout Ranji Trophy season came in 2016-17, when he claimed 33 wickets in seven matches.
His final first-class stint came with Northamptonshire in Division Two of the 2026 County Championship, where he took 21 wickets at an average of 16.14. That was the second-best bowling average among players who claimed at least 20 wickets in the competition.
Chahal’s final first-class appearance ended in a seven-wicket defeat to Middlesex, a result that also brought Northamptonshire’s promotion hopes to an end.
A member of India’s 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup-winning squad, Chahal has continued to feature in limited-overs cricket despite being outside the national team setup in recent times. He is also the leading wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he has represented Punjab Kings.
Chahal was instrumental in Haryana’s Vijay Hazare Trophy triumph in the 2023-24 season, taking 18 wickets at an average of 14.83. He has also continued to feature in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and represented Northamptonshire in England’s One-Day Cup for three seasons.
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