Yuzvendra Chahal Retires from First-Class Cricket, Keeps ODI and T20I Comeback Hopes Alive

India legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal has announced his retirement from first-class cricket, bringing the curtain down on his red-ball career while insisting that his ambition to represent India in ODIs and T20Is remains strong.

Chahal, who never received an India Test cap despite making it a long-standing ambition, has represented the country in 72 ODIs and 80 T20Is. His last international appearance came in a T20I in August 2023.

In a post on Instagram, Chahal reflected emotionally on his journey in first-class cricket and acknowledged that his dream of playing Test cricket for India would not be fulfilled."For me, red-ball cricket was never just another format," Chahal said. "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 his final first-class appearance came at Lord's and described the decision to retire from the format as an emotional one."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."

However, the 35-year-old made it clear that he does not consider his playing career to be over.

"NOT DONE YET," Chahal wrote, adding that his desire to play for India remains strong.

He said he still believes he has enough cricket left in him and will give everything to earn another opportunity in the 50-over and T20 formats.

Strong County Championship Finish

Chahal finished his first-class career with 148 wickets at an average of 32.27 in 49 matches.

His final first-class season came with Northamptonshire in the 2026 County Championship. He enjoyed an impressive campaign in Division Two, taking 21 wickets at 16.14, the second-best average among bowlers who claimed at least 20 wickets.

His final appearance came against Middlesex, who defeated Northamptonshire by seven wickets and ended the county's promotion hopes.

Limited Red-Ball Career for Haryana

Chahal began his first-class career with Haryana in 2009 but was never a regular feature of the team's red-ball setup.

His most productive Ranji Trophy season came in 2016-17, when he played seven matches and claimed 33 wickets at an average of 22.60. It was the last time he appeared in more than two matches in a single Ranji Trophy season.

Despite his limited first-class involvement, Chahal continued to feature regularly in India's domestic limited-overs competitions.

He has played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in recent seasons, while his last Vijay Hazare Trophy appearance came in the 2023-24 season. He took 18 wickets at 14.83 during that campaign, helping Haryana win the title.

Chahal has also remained active in 50-over cricket through his county commitments, representing Northamptonshire in each of the last three seasons of the One-Day Cup.

India Comeback Still the Goal

Chahal has fallen out of favour with India's selectors but remains active in franchise and domestic cricket.

He is currently playing for Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League and remains the highest wicket-taker in IPL history.

Although his first-class career has now come to an end, Chahal's continued involvement in List A and T20 cricket reflects his desire to return to India's limited-overs setup.

For a bowler who has already enjoyed a long international career, the next challenge will be to convince the selectors that his experience and wicket-taking ability can still have a role in India's ODI and T20I plans.