Just days after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli pulled out of the upcoming England Test series, another name from Indian cricket has called time on his career. Gujarat’s domestic cricket legend, Priyank Panchal, has announced his retirement from all forms of the game.
The 35-year-old batter took to his social media handle to share an emotional note. In his note, he thanked fans and the BCCI. He retires as one of the finest Indian cricketers never to play an international match, despite being part of the national squad at one point.
Panchal made his professional debut in 2008 and went on to become a domestic giant. He played 127 first-class matches, scoring nearly 9000 runs, including 29 centuries. He consistently performed for Gujarat and India A over the years, showing patience, skill, and determination.
Did you know? Priyank Panchal once replaced Rohit Sharma
For those who don’t know, Rohit Sharma was ruled out due to a hamstring injury in 2021, ahead of India’s Test tour to South Africa. The selectors picked Priyank Panchal as Rohit Sharma’s replacement for the tour, considering that he had been doing well for India A and had a strong domestic record.
Back when Panchal was picked up by selectors, he had then tweeted, “Thank you everyone for all your good wishes. Honoured to be donning the Team India jersey. Thank you for showing faith in me, @BCCI. Looking forward to the series!”
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Unfortunately, despite the call-up, he didn’t get a chance to play in any match. Earlier that year, he was also part of the India squad touring England as a standby player. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it into the playing XI due to stiff competition.
Meanwhile, Priyank Panchal now joins the list of exceptional players who dominated domestic cricket but never got an international debut. This is a reminder of how tough and competitive it is to sneak into the playing XI of the Indian men’s cricket team.