Yuzvendra Chahal has announced his retirement from first-class cricket after playing his last game at Lord's Cricket Ground. Chahal, who represented Northamptonshire
in the 206-27 county season, played his last game against Middlesex at the Home of Cricket. He scalped two wickets in the fixture. "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 in his retirement post 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," he added. Chahal also confirmed his future in the post and said that he has the "hunger" to play the country. The senior leg-spinner will continue to play List A and T20 cricket. He plays for Haryana in domestic cricket and represents Punjab Kings in IPL. "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 hell of a journey," Chahal wrote.
Yuzvendra Chahal's red-ball career
Chahal made his red-ball debut in the Ranji Trophy game against Madhya Pradesh in 2009. His big break came in 2018 when he was selected in the India A squad for the two-match unofficial Test series against South Africa A. He scalped four wickets in four innings. Chahal wasn't selected in the India A red-ball squad again.
He finished his red-ball career with 148 wickets in 49 matches. His tally includes six five-fers. Chahal, who is still active in white-ball cricket, hasn't played for India since August 2023.
The 36-year-old was shockingly dropped from the ODI team ahead of the 2023 World Cup. He made his return for the 2024 T20 World Cup but was dropped after the ICC event.
