Yuzvendra Chahal Retires From First-Class Cricket After 17-Year Career

Yuzvendra Chahal has announced his retirement from first-class cricket after a 17-year career. The India leg-spinner will now focus fully on white-ball cricket and hopes to make a comeback for the national team.

Chahal made his first-class debut for Haryana in 2009. He went on to play 49 matches, taking 148 wickets at an average of 32.27.

His final first-class appearance came at Lord’s, bringing an emotional end to his red-ball career. Chahal never played a Test match for India, despite carrying the dream of receiving a Test cap throughout his career.

“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,” Chahal said.

He added that red-ball cricket taught him “patience, character, resilience” and gave him some of the most special memories of his life.

Chahal, 35, has represented India in 72 ODIs and 80 T20Is. His last international appearance came in a T20I against the West Indies in August 2023.

The spinner made it clear that his retirement from first-class cricket does not mean the end of his international ambitions. He remains available for selection in both ODIs and T20Is.

“But I AM NOT DONE YET. The hunger to play for my country is still very much alive,” Chahal said. “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.”

Chahal also thanked the Haryana Cricket Association and its former officials Ranbir Singh Mahindra and Anirudh Singh Chaudhary for their support throughout his career.

“From a 10-year-old holding his first red ball to playing his final First-Class game, it has been one hell of a journey,” he said.