Star Cricketer Retires Without Making Debut for Team India

Despite his prolific domestic cricket achievements, Gujarat’s former captain Priyank Panchal has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket without ever making his debut for the Indian national team. The Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) officially confirmed this development on Monday.

Priyank Panchal, aged 35, was known as a destructive batter and one of the most consistent performers in domestic cricket. Over the course of his career, he played 127 first-class matches, 97 List-A games, and 59 T20s. Despite his strong record and experience, he was unable to break into the Indian team in any format.

An opening batter, Priyank Panchal was selected for the India squad during the South Africa tour in the 2021-22 season. He was also picked as a backup for opener Rohit Sharma during the home series against England. The selectors included him alongside Bengal cricketer Abhimanyu Easwaran as a reserve opener. However, he did not make it to the final playing XI and thus never got the chance to make his international debut.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Priyank Panchal revealed that thoughts of retirement had been on his mind for some time. “For a long time, I had been considering retirement. When I began playing cricket, my dream was to represent Team India. I played with discipline and dedication toward that goal. But after a certain point, I felt it was no longer possible. I gave my best. I played for India A and scored heavily in the Ranji Trophy. But not being able to earn a place in the Indian team will always remain painful. Not playing for Team India is certainly disappointing. I realized that now the time has come, and hence I am retiring,” said Priyank Panchal.

Priyank Panchal’s Domestic Career Stats

In his 127 first-class matches, he amassed 8,856 runs at an average of 45.18, including 29 centuries. His highest individual score was an unbeaten 314. In 97 List-A matches, he scored 3,672 runs with 8 centuries. In 59 T20 games, he made 1,522 runs at an average of 28.71.