Priyank Panchal retirement from First-Class Cricket
Veteran Gujarat opener Priyank Panchal has announced his retirement from first-class cricket, bringing the curtain down on a distinguished 17-year career.
The 35-year-old made the announcement on May 26, 2025, in an emotional message on Instagram, calling time on a journey filled with milestones and unwavering dedication to the game.
Panchal was a stalwart for Gujarat in domestic cricket, finishing his career as the state’s second-highest run-getter in first-class cricket with 6992 runs, just 19 runs short of Parthiv Patel’s record tally of 7011.
His final Ranji Trophy season in 2024–25 was impressive, with two centuries, including a memorable 148 in the semi-final against Kerala, his last professional innings.
Throughout his career, Panchal played 127 first-class matches, amassing 8856 runs, including 23 centuries, the most by any Gujarat player, and further solidified his status as one of the most consistent openers in Indian domestic cricket.
Beyond the red-ball format, he featured in 97 List A games, scoring 3,672 runs at an average of 40.80, with eight centuries and 21 fifties. In T20s, he played 59 matches, collecting 1,522 runs at an average of 28.71, including nine half-centuries.
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Priyank Panchal’s in Indian Team
Despite never making his debut for the Indian national team, Panchal was included in the Test squads on multiple occasions, including the 2021–22 series against South Africa as a replacement for Rohit Sharma. He also captained India A, showcasing leadership and consistency at the highest level of domestic cricket.
Panchal was also part of Gujarat’s golden era, contributing to their triumphs in all three major domestic tournaments, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (2014-15), Vijay Hazare Trophy (2015-16), and the Ranji Trophy (2016-17).
In his retirement post, Panchal expressed heartfelt gratitude, calling it “an emotional and enriching moment.” While he may not be played for India’s senior team, his contribution to Indian cricket, especially Gujarat’s rise, remains significant and inspirational.
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