‘I am not done yet’: Chahal quits first-class cricket, eyes India white-ball comeback

Veteran India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal on Friday announced his retirement from first-class cricket, bringing down the curtain on his red-ball career while making it clear that he remains determined to force his way back into India’s ODI and T20I teams.

Chahal, who never played Test cricket for India, finished his first-class career with 148 wickets from 49 matches at an average of 32.27. His final appearance came for Northamptonshire against Middlesex at Lord’s in the County Championship Division Two last month.

Test dream ends

Announcing his decision on social media, Chahal reflected on a red-ball journey that began when he was a child. He said the first cricket ball he held was a red one when he was 10 and that the longer format taught him patience, character and resilience.

The 36-year-old acknowledged that earning a Test cap had remained a dream throughout his career. Although that opportunity never arrived, Chahal said he was content with his journey and grateful for the opportunities and memories first-class cricket had given him. His retirement closes a first-class career that began with Haryana in 2009. Chahal also represented North Zone and later found considerable success in English county cricket with Northamptonshire.

‘Not done yet’

While giving up red-ball cricket, Chahal stressed that the decision did not amount to retirement from the sport or from his pursuit of another India call-up. “But I AM NOT DONE YET,” Chahal wrote, adding that his hunger to represent India remained “very much alive”. He said he believed he still had cricket left in him and would give everything to earn another opportunity in the ODI and T20 formats.

Chahal has not represented India since a T20I against the West Indies in August 2023. He has played 72 ODIs and 80 T20Is, taking 121 wickets in the 50-over format and 96 in T20 internationals. He was also a member of India’s squad that won the 2024 T20 World Cup, although he did not feature in the playing XI during the tournament.

Strong finish in county cricket

Chahal’s decision comes after an impressive final first-class stint with Northamptonshire. In the 2026 County Championship Division Two season, he collected 21 wickets in five matches at an average of 16.14.

His season included a nine-wicket match haul against Durham. His last first-class appearance came against Middlesex at Lord’s, where Northamptonshire suffered a seven-wicket defeat that ended their hopes of promotion. The venue gave Chahal’s red-ball farewell added significance. Lord’s became the setting for the end of a first-class journey during which the Test cap he coveted ultimately remained beyond reach.

White-ball focus

Chahal will continue playing limited-overs cricket, with his attention now firmly on extending his career in the shorter formats and attempting to earn another India call-up. He remains one of India’s most experienced white-ball leg-spinners. His international record includes 217 wickets across ODIs and T20Is, while his long IPL career has established him among the tournament’s most prolific bowlers.

Chahal has also remained involved in domestic limited-overs cricket. He played an important role in Haryana’s Vijay Hazare Trophy triumph in the 2023-24 season, taking 18 wickets during the campaign.

India return remains target

The leg-spinner thanked those who had supported him during his first-class journey, including the Haryana Cricket Association, as he formally closed the red-ball chapter of his career. His decision effectively ends any remaining possibility of representing India in Test cricket, but Chahal has deliberately kept the door open in the formats in which he built his international career. After 17 years, 49 matches and 148 first-class wickets, Chahal has accepted that his Test ambition will remain unfulfilled. His message, however, was equally clear about what comes next: the red-ball journey is over, but his attempt to wear India colours again is not.