Yuzvendra Chahal retires from first-class cricket, keeps India white-ball hopes alive
Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has announced his retirement from first-class cricket, bringing an end to his red-ball career while admitting that his long-held dream of playing Test cricket will not be fulfilled. Chahal, 36, made the announcement on Friday in an emotional post on Instagram , reflecting on his journey in the longer format and saying his final first-class appearance at Lord’s…
Veteran Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has retired from first-class cricket, concluding his red-ball career but maintaining aspirations for international white-ball cricket. In an emotional Instagram post, the 36-year-old reflected on his journey and acknowledged that a Test cap, a lifelong dream, will remain unfulfilled. Chahal reminisced about his first cricket ball at age 10 and credited the format for teaching him patience, resilience, and determination.
Despite never receiving a Test call-up for India, Chahal expressed gratitude for the experiences and memories he gained on the longer format. He made his final first-class appearance at Lord’s, retiring with 148 wickets from 49 matches at an average of 32.27. Chahal's last spell in red-ball cricket saw him take 21 wickets in the 2026 County Championship, earning one of the best bowling averages among players with at least 20 wickets in Division Two.
While Chahal will step away from first-class cricket, he remains determined to continue his international career, stating that his hunger to play for his country remains strong.
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