Veteran Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has officially announced his retirement from first-class cricket, bringing the curtain down on a 17-year red-ball journey.
The 35-year-old spinner acknowledged that while his long-cherished dream of earning an India Test cap is no longer within reach, he remains fully motivated to continue fighting for his place in India’s white-ball setups.
A Heartfelt Farewell to the Red Ball
Reflecting on his career, Chahal shared an emotional note on Instagram, recalling how his journey started with a red ball at the age of 10.
“The first cricket ball I ever held was a red ball… 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.”
Chahal finished his first-class career with 148 wickets in 49 matches at an average of 32.27, making his debut for Haryana back in 2009. His final red-ball stint came in the 2026 County Championship, where he sparkled for Northamptonshire, picking up 21 wickets at an impressive average of 16.14.
The White-Ball Dream Continues
Despite walking away from the longest format, Chahal made it clear that his international career is far from over: “I AM NOT DONE YET.”
As a veteran of 72 ODIs and 80 T20Is, and a proud member of India’s victorious 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup squad, Chahal aims to leverage his stellar domestic white-ball pedigree—including starring roles for Haryana and the IPL—to force his way back into national contention.
