On Friday, May 22, 2026, former Indian all-rounder Vijay Shankar officially announced his retirement from domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 35-year-old shared his decision via a social media post, stating he intends to explore new opportunities and play cricket abroad in overseas franchise leagues. He signed off his farewell note with a nod to his famous nickname, "Your 3D Cricketer". He played for his home state Tamil Nadu for 13 seasons, captaining them to title victories in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
He made a late-career move to Tripura for the 2025–26 season, where he played his final First-Class match, scoring an unbeaten 151* against Gujarat. Shankar featured in 78 IPL
matches across stints with the Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, and Gujarat Titans (with whom he won the title in 2022).
After going unsold in the most recent player auction following his release from CSK, he decided to turn his focus abroad. Shankar earned 21 white-ball caps for India between 2018 and 2019, including a high-profile selection for the 2019 ODI World Cup. He was picked over specialist batter Ambati Rayudu by selectors who labeled him a "three-dimensional" (3D) player for his batting, medium-pace bowling, and fielding skills. In his retirement message, Shankar highlighted his two favorite international memories.
The first being, taking a wicket on his very first ball against Pakistan at Old Trafford in 2019 after stepping in mid-over for an injured Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The second was in Nagpur, defending 11 runs in the final over against Australia to secure the Indian team’s historic 500th ODI victory. Addressing the severe online trolling he faced after the 2019 selection controversy, Shankar wrote: "I have faced unreal hate and negativity. Let me take this opportunity to let you know that I chose to ignore and move forward."
Vijay Shankar now prepares to focus on International Leagues
By officially retiring from domestic cricket under the BCCI, Vijay Shankar is now legally free to sign contracts with overseas leagues. Unlike players from most other countries, Indian cricketers are strictly barred by the BCCI from participating in external leagues unless they completely sever ties with Indian domestic cricket and the IPL. Several prominent franchise leagues around the world heavily recruit retired Indian players due to their high skill levels and the massive global Indian fanbase. Shankar's profile as a seam-bowling all-rounder makes him highly valuable in these markets.
The MLC is the most lucrative target for retired Indian cricketers. The tournament relies heavily on standard American sporting facilities and has direct investment from various IPL franchises (like MI New York and Texas Super Kings), making it an easy transition for former IPL players. The ILT20 is based in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, this league allows teams to field up to nine overseas players per match. It offers high tax-free salaries and is heavily backed by Indian corporate owners. Because he has formally retired, franchises can sign him to multi-year contracts without worrying about the BCCI recalling him for domestic tournaments or national camps
