Priyank Panchal, a stalwart of Indian domestic cricket and former Gujarat captain, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, expressing regret over never debuting for the Indian national team.
Panchal's career spanned 127 first-class matches, including 99 Ranji Trophy games, where he amassed
8,856 runs with
29 centuries and 34 fifties. His highest score was an unbeaten
314. He was instrumental in Gujarat's Ranji Trophy triumph in 2016-17 and led the team as captain.
Despite his domestic success, Panchal never played an international match. He was selected for the Indian Test squads against South Africa in December 2021 and Sri Lanka in February 2022 but did not get a chance to debut. Reflecting on this, Panchal said,
"Not being able to play is definitely a regret. But at the same time, it is also an achievement."He acknowledged the challenges of breaking into the national team, emphasizing the importance of timing and consistency:
"Obviously, consistency is important. It is important to perform as a player. But it is also important to perform at the right time."Former Gujarat coach Hitesh Majmudar praised Panchal's contributions, calling him the backbone of Gujarat's batting and lamenting his misfortune in not playing for India.
Panchal's final match was a Ranji Trophy semifinal against Kerala, where he scored a commanding
148, though Gujarat narrowly lost. His retirement marks the end of a distinguished domestic career marked by resilience and leadership.
Panchal expressed that while missing out on international cricket is painful, he recognizes the significance of his domestic achievements and the timing of his decision to retire.
"Not playing for Team India is certainly disappointing. I realized that now the time has come, and hence I am retiring."Priyank Panchal, former Gujarat captain and prolific domestic cricketer with 8,856 first-class runs, has retired without debuting for India. Despite selection in squads for South Africa and Sri Lanka Tests, Panchal expressed regret over missing international play but acknowledged his domestic achievements.
