Cricketer Priyank Panchal Announces Retirement After 17-Year Career

Veteran Indian domestic cricketer Priyank Panchal has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, ending a distinguished 17-year career. The 35-year-old, who played a crucial role in Gujarat’s rise in Indian domestic cricket, retires as the state’s second-highest run-scorer in first-class cricket, just 19 runs behind Parthiv Patel’s 7011.

Panchal played 127 first-class matches, scoring 8856 runs with 23 centuries—the most by any Gujarat player. His highest score came in the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season when he smashed 314 against Punjab. That season was pivotal as Panchal scored 1310 runs, the second-highest in a Ranji season after VVS Laxman.

He also played 97 List A matches and 59 T20 games and was part of Gujarat’s victorious squads in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (2014-15), Vijay Hazare Trophy (2015-16), and the Ranji Trophy (2016-17). Panchal was known for his consistency and leadership, even captaining India A and being considered a standby for the Indian Test team.

His final season, 2024-25, included two centuries and a final innings score of 148 in the semi-final against Kerala. Though he never made it to the national Test side, his contribution to Indian domestic cricket has been widely acknowledged. Panchal leaves behind a legacy of discipline, grit, and excellence that inspired many young cricketers in Gujarat and beyond.