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Yuzvendra Chahal First-Class Retirement: Indian cricket team's ace leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal announced his retirement from First-Class (FC) cricket on October 2. Chahal shared this news through an emotional post on his official Instagram account. He clarified that this farewell applies only to red-ball cricket, while he will continue to play in limited-overs (ODI and T20) formats.
Yuzvendra Chahal's Emotional Farewell Message on Instagram
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In his Instagram post, Chahal reflected on his bond with red-ball cricket and his final match, writing:
"The first cricket ball I ever held was red. I was 10 years old, and I had no idea then just how deeply attached I would become to this game. For me, red-ball cricket was never just another format. It was in this format that I learned about patience, the courage to face adversity, and the true joy of battling for every run and every wicket while staying committed on the field for hours."
He further wrote:
"I played my last First-Class match at Lord's. It feels emotional to say this, because earning a Test cap had always been a dream I cherished for years. Even though that dream remained unfulfilled, I am truly content with my journey and immensely grateful for every opportunity I received in this format."
Focus Shifted to Limited-Overs Cricket Comeback
Yuzvendra Chahal, who has been out of the Indian team for some time, made it clear that he still has plenty of cricket left in him. He is determined to give his all to make a comeback to the Indian team in the ODI and T20I formats. Additionally, he expressed his gratitude to the Haryana Cricket Association, Ranbir Singh Mahindra, and Aniruddh Singh Choudhary for their constant support throughout his red-ball journey.
Yuzvendra Chahal First-Class Career Highlights
Yuzvendra Chahal's First-Class journey has been quite memorable:
- Debut: Chahal made his First-Class debut for Haryana against Madhya Pradesh in 2009.
- Best Ranji Trophy Season: His most outstanding year while playing for Haryana was the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season, where he claimed 33 wickets in just 7 matches.
- Stint in English County Championship: Towards the latter part of his career, he played in the County Championship for Northamptonshire in England. In his final season (2026), he bowled magnificently, taking 21 wickets in just 5 matches.
- Final First-Class Match: He played his last First-Class match against Middlesex at the historic Lord's Cricket Ground, where he claimed 2 wickets.
Also Read: IND vs PAK 2027 World Cup: 3 Matches in 1 Tournament? Here How
Yuzvendra Chahal First-Class Career Statistics (FC Stats)
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The overall statistics of Chahal's First-Class career are provided below:
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 49 |
| Wickets | 148 |
| Bowling Average | 32.27 |
| Economy Rate | ~3.15 |
| 5-Wicket Hauls (Fifers) | 6 |
| Best Bowling (Innings) | 6/25 |
| Best Bowling (Match) | 9 wickets (vs Durham, 2026) |
Although Chahal's dream of playing for the Test team may have remained unfulfilled, his First-Class career and his performance in the County Championship will always be remembered. It remains to be seen how soon he makes a comeback to Team India in the limited-overs format.
Also Read: ICC ODI World Cup 2027 Teams List: 14 Teams, Host Slots & Qualifiers
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