'There's more to life than cricket': Veteran domestic batter explains early retirement call
Former Gujarat cricket captain Priyank Panchal has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in May 2025, sharing his perspective during a recent "Ask Me Anything" session on social media platform X.
The 35-year-old domestic cricket veteran, who had previously led India A and been part of the senior national squad, explained his decision to transition early into his post-cricket career.
"Every cricketer has two careers - the playing & non-playing one. Once I knew I couldn't play for India, it made sense to begin the latter early and get a headstart. Eventually there's more to life than cricket," Panchal stated during his social media interaction.
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Panchal's cricket career spans an impressive 127 First-Class matches, during which he accumulated 8,856 runs with an average of 45.18, including 29 centuries and 34 fifties. His performance in domestic cricket showcases his batting prowess across formats.
In List A cricket, Panchal participated in 97 matches, scoring 3,672 runs at an average of 40.80, with eight centuries and 21 fifties to his name. His T20 career comprises 59 matches, where he scored 1,522 runs at an average of 28.71, including nine half-centuries.
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Undo
The right-handed opening batsman achieved significant recognition during the 2016-17
Ranji Trophy
season, scoring 1,310 runs and recording his highest individual score of 314 not out. This remarkable performance coincided with Gujarat's victory in the premier domestic competition.
Panchal's involvement with the Indian national team included being named as a replacement for
Rohit Sharma
when the latter was injured. He was also selected as one of the reserve openers, alongside Abhimanyu Easwaran, for the home Test series against England in 2021.
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Which of Priyank Panchal's achievements do you find most impressive?
Scoring 314 not out in the Ranji Trophy
Accumulating 8,856 runs in First-Class cricket
Winning multiple domestic titles with Gujarat
His contributions to Gujarat cricket extend beyond individual achievements. Panchal was part of the successful Gujarat teams that won multiple domestic titles, including the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2015-16 and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in consecutive seasons of 2012-13 and 2013-14.
The announcement of his retirement reflects a thoughtful transition from active cricket to pursuing opportunities beyond the sport.
His decision, as explained during the social media interaction, emphasizes the importance of planning for a career after cricket and making timely transitions when necessary.
Throughout his career, Panchal has demonstrated consistent performance across various domestic cricket formats, establishing himself as a reliable opening batsman and leader in Gujarat cricket. His achievements in domestic cricket, including multiple tournament victories and personal milestones, have left a lasting impact on Indian domestic cricket.
The timing of his retirement, at age 35, and his clear articulation of the reasoning behind this decision provides insight into the career planning considerations of professional cricketers. His approach to transitioning from playing cricket to pursuing other opportunities reflects a pragmatic understanding of career progression in professional sports.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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