India’s leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has announced his retirement from first-class cricket. Chahal scalped 149 wickets in 48 first-class matches at an average of 32.27. However, the leg-spinner was never able to make his Test debut for India.
Chahal revealed he would continue to play in the white-ball formats. The leg-spinner last appearance in the red-ball format came in the County Championship Division Two for Northamptonshire against Middlesex. Chahal bagged two wickets in the match, which concluded on September 26.
Chahal wrote on his Instagram, “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.
Chahal said he is genuinely content with his red-ball version journey despite not making his India debut.
“I played my last First-Class match at Lords, saying these words is emotional as a Test cap was always a dream, one that I carried with me for many years. It may not have happened, but I am genuinely content with the journey I have had and incredibly grateful for every opportunity that came my way in this format. The red ball gave me some of the most beautiful memories of my life, and nothing will ever take that away,” he added.
The experienced spinner added he is not done yet and will continue to play in the white-ball formats.
“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. A special thank you to the Haryana Cricket Association, Mr. Ranbir Singh Mahindra Sir and Mr. Anirudh Singh Chaudhary Sir for their continuous support, trust and belief throughout my journey. From a 10-year-old holding his first red ball to playing his final First-Class game, it has been one h*ll of a journey.”
Chahal has scalped 217 wickets in 152 matches across ODIs and T20Is for India.
