Vijay Shankar Retires from Indian Domestic Cricket and IPL, Set for Overseas Leagues

Indian allrounder Vijay Shankar has announced his retirement from domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL), bringing an end to a career that spanned more than a decade across formats.

The 35-year-old seam-bowling allrounder’s decision will now allow him to participate in overseas franchise leagues around the world.

Successful Domestic Career Comes to an End

Vijay Shankar enjoyed a distinguished domestic career, primarily representing Tamil Nadu, where he established himself as one of the state’s most dependable allrounders.

He played a key role in leading Tamil Nadu to titles in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Deodhar Trophy before moving to Tripura ahead of the 2025-26 domestic season.

His final first-class appearance proved memorable, as he smashed an unbeaten 151 against Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy in February, earning the Player-of-the-Match award in a winning cause.

Over the course of his domestic career, Vijay Shankar scored:

• 4,253 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 46.73
• 2,790 List A runs at 34.87
• 2,583 T20 runs at a strike rate of 128.37

He also contributed significantly with the ball, claiming 154 wickets across all formats.

India Career and the “3D Cricketer” Tag

Vijay Shankar represented India in 21 white-ball internationals between 2018 and 2019, playing 12 ODIs and nine T20Is.

He scored 223 ODI runs at an average of 31.85 and added 101 runs in T20 internationals at a strike rate of 138.35.

The allrounder gained national attention ahead of the 2019 ODI World Cup when India were searching for a reliable No. 4 batter. His ability to contribute in multiple departments made him a preferred choice for the selectors.

Former chief selector MSK Prasad famously described Vijay Shankar as a “three-dimensional” player because of his batting, bowling and fielding abilities, a comment that sparked widespread debate after Ambati Rayudu was overlooked for the World Cup squad.

Rayudu had responded sarcastically on social media at the time, saying he had ordered “3D glasses” to watch the World Cup.

Vijay Shankar later embraced the label himself and signed off his retirement post on Instagram with the words: “Your 3D cricketer.”

Brief but Memorable World Cup Campaign

Although his 2019 World Cup journey was cut short, Vijay Shankar produced one of the highlights of his international career during India’s victory over Pakistan at Old Trafford.

He claimed two wickets in the match, including a wicket with the very first ball he bowled in World Cup cricket.

However, his campaign ended prematurely after he suffered a broken toe while facing Jasprit Bumrah in the nets during the tournament.

IPL Journey Across Four Franchises

Vijay Shankar also enjoyed a long IPL career from 2014 to 2025, representing four franchises:

• Chennai Super Kings
• Sunrisers Hyderabad
• Delhi Capitals
• Gujarat Titans

He played 78 IPL matches overall and was known for his versatility as a middle-order batter and medium-pace option.

At the most recent IPL auction in December, Vijay Shankar went unsold after registering as an uncapped player, with more than five years having passed since his last appearance for India.

With domestic cricket and the IPL now behind him, Vijay Shankar is expected to continue his career in overseas T20 franchise leagues.