New Delhi: Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal on Friday announced his retirement from first-class cricket, ending his dreams of playing Test cricket for . Chahal, however, remains keen to continue playing white-ball cricket and has not ruled out a return to the Indian team in limited-overs formats.
The 36-year-old has played 72 ODIs and 80 T20I matches for India, but never earned a call-up to the Test team, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja firmly established as premier spin-bowling options in the longest format.
Chahal started his first-class career with Haryana in 2009 and picked up 148 wickets from 49 matches at an average of 32.27. He played for Northamptonshire in the 2026 County Championship, taking 21 wickets at 16.14 in Division Two. His last first-class outing came against Middlesex, who won by seven wickets and ended Northamptonshire’s promotion hopes.
‘Test cap was always a dream, one that I carried with me for many years’
Chahal described his retirement as an emotional decision, saying that playing Test cricket for India had always been a dream. The leg-spinner said he was incredibly grateful for every opportunity he received and for the support of the Haryana Cricket Association.
“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 wrote on Instagram.
“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. 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. 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 added.
Apart from representing Punjab Kings in the IPL, Chahal played a key role in Haryana’s 2023/24 Vijay Hazare Trophy title triumph. He claimed 18 wickets at an average of 14.83 and also made regular appearances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.