Yuzvendra Chahal has called time on his first-class career, ending his dreams of playing Test cricket for India while leaving the door open for a return to the national side in white-ball cricket. The 36-year-old legspinner, who has played 72 ODIs and 80 T20Is for India, never came close to a Test berth, as India were always well served by the star pair of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
“For me, red-ball cricket was never just another format,” Chahal said in an Instagram post. “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’s first-class career began with Haryana in 2009 and yielded 148 wickets from 49 matches at an average of 32.27. He spent the 2026 County Championship with Northamptonshire, taking 21 wickets at 16.14 in Division Two. His final first-class outing came against Middlesex, who won by seven wickets and ended Northamptonshire’s promotion hopes.
“I played my last First-Class match at Lord’s, 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.”
Meanwhile, Chahal’s red-ball appearances for Haryana had become increasingly infrequent. His last Ranji Trophy season with more than two matches was in 2016-17, when he claimed 33 wickets in seven games at 22.60. He stated, however, that his white-ball career remains active and he retains hopes of playing for India again despite his last appearance coming in August 2023. He also remains a prominent figure in the IPL, where he is the competition’s leading wicket-taker and currently represents Punjab Kings.
“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,” he signed off.
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