Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has announced his retirement from first-class cricket, bringing the curtain down on his 17-year red-ball career. Chahal, who never got the opportunity to play a Test for India, said his dream of earning a Test cap remained unfulfilled but that he is content with his journey.
The 36-year-old made the announcement after playing his final first-class match for Northamptonshire against Middlesex at Lord's. He also made it clear that his cricket career is far from over, insisting that he wants to continue competing in ODI and T20 cricket and hopes to earn another India call-up.
Chahal's first-class career: 148 wickets in 49 matches
Chahal made his first-class debut for Haryana in 2009 and finished his red-ball career with 148 wickets from 49 matches at an average of 32.27. His best innings figures were 6/25, while he recorded six five-wicket hauls.
His most productive Ranji Trophy campaign came in the 2016-17 season, when he picked up 33 wickets in seven matches at an average of 22.60. However, he gradually became a less frequent participant in India's domestic first-class competition as his white-ball career took centre stage.
His final chapter in red-ball cricket came in England. Playing for Northamptonshire in the 2026 County Championship, Chahal took 21 wickets in five matches at an impressive average of 16.14. He also claimed nine wickets in a match against Durham.
His final first-class appearance came at Lord's against Middlesex, with Northamptonshire suffering a seven-wicket defeat that ended their promotion hopes.
The Test dream that never came true
Despite becoming one of India's most successful limited-overs spinners, Chahal never played Test cricket for the country.
Reflecting on his retirement, he said the red ball was the first cricket ball he held at the age of 10 and that it taught him patience, resilience and character. His Test dream remained alive for years, but he acknowledged that it would not be fulfilled.
Chahal's decision to retire from first-class cricket therefore marks the end of his hopes of making a Test debut, although he has stressed that he still believes he has plenty to offer in white-ball cricket.
India career: 72 ODIs, 80 T20Is and a World Cup winner
Chahal established himself as one of India's premier limited-overs spinners after making his international debut in 2016.
He went on to play 72 ODIs and 80 T20Is for India, taking 217 wickets across the two formats. His last international appearance came in a T20I against the West Indies in August 2023, while his last ODI was against New Zealand in January 2023.
Chahal was also part of India's 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad, although he did not play a match during the tournament.
Despite his international success, one of the biggest talking points of his India career was his repeated omission from major tournaments and playing XIs.
T20 World Cup snubs became a talking point
Chahal was not included in India's squad for the 2021 T20 World Cup. He was selected for the 2022 edition in Australia but did not feature in India's playing XI during the tournament.
His omission from the XI became a major talking point after India's semi-final defeat to England. Chahal later said he understood the team's combination and remained ready in case an opportunity came his way.
His absence from India's white-ball plans in subsequent years eventually led to questions about whether one of the country's most prolific T20 bowlers had been overlooked.
IPL career: From Mumbai Indians to becoming RCB's leading wicket-taker
Chahal's IPL journey began with Mumbai Indians, who signed him in 2011. However, he played only one match for the franchise across three seasons.
His career changed dramatically after he joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2014. Over eight seasons, Chahal became RCB's premier spinner and took 139 wickets, making him the only bowler to cross 100 wickets for the franchise at the time of the IPL's 2026 season.
RCB released him ahead of the 2022 mega auction, and Chahal was subsequently bought by Rajasthan Royals for ₹6.5 crore.
He later became the IPL's leading wicket-taker, cementing his reputation as one of the most successful bowlers in the competition's history. He currently represents Punjab Kings.
RCB exit became another controversial chapter
Chahal has previously spoken about his disappointment over RCB's decision not to retain him ahead of the 2022 mega auction.
He said he did not receive a phone call from the franchise and claimed that he had been told RCB would try to buy him back at the auction. According to Chahal, the franchise ultimately did not bid for him after securing Wanindu Hasaranga.
The episode became one of the more talked-about moments of his IPL career, particularly because Chahal had spent eight seasons with RCB and emerged as the team's leading spinner.
2013 IPL incident: Chahal reveals shocking balcony episode
One of the most serious incidents Chahal has spoken about came years later when he recalled an incident from an IPL 2013 party in Bengaluru.
Chahal said a fellow cricketer, whom he did not name, was allegedly drunk and hung him from a 15th-floor hotel balcony. He said he nearly fainted and was eventually helped back into the room by others present.
Chahal chose not to reveal the player's identity, saying he understood the importance of being responsible about the incident.
Divorce and allegations involving Dhanashree Verma
Chahal's personal life also became a major subject of public attention following his divorce from Dhanashree Verma.
The couple married in 2020 and later separated, with their marriage eventually being legally dissolved. During the period surrounding their divorce, social media speculation and allegations about infidelity generated considerable attention.
Chahal later addressed the allegations in an interview and denied ever cheating, saying he had been wrongly labelled a "cheater". He also said that differences in priorities, personalities and careers contributed to the breakdown of the relationship.
The divorce and subsequent online trolling became a difficult period for the cricketer. In later comments, Chahal said he had moved on and described the relationship as a chapter of his life that was over.
Haryana's Vijay Hazare Trophy triumph
Away from international cricket, Chahal continued to contribute to domestic white-ball cricket.
He played an important role in Haryana's 2023-24 Vijay Hazare Trophy title-winning campaign, taking 18 wickets at an average of 14.83. He has also continued to feature in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and represented Northamptonshire in the English One-Day Cup.
'I am not done yet'
While Chahal has closed the door on first-class cricket, he has no intention of retiring from the sport altogether.
In his retirement announcement, he wrote emphatically: "I AM NOT DONE YET." He said his desire to represent India remains strong and that he believes he still has enough cricket left to earn another opportunity in ODIs and T20Is.
For Chahal, the red-ball journey may have ended without the Test cap he dreamed of, but his white-ball career, IPL legacy and pursuit of another India comeback continue.
Yuzvendra Chahal career at a glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| First-class debut | 2009, Haryana |
| First-class matches | 49 |
| First-class wickets | 148 |
| First-class average | 32.27 |
| India ODIs | 72 |
| India T20Is | 80 |
| International wickets | 217 |
| Test matches | 0 |
| T20 World Cup | 2024 champion with India |
| IPL wickets | All-time leading wicket-taker |
| Final first-class team | Northamptonshire |
| Final first-class venue | Lord's |
| White-ball future | Continues to pursue India comeback |
