Earlier this month when two stalwarts of Indian cricket, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, retired from the five-day format of the game, cricket fans were shocked. The debate still continues whether they should have retired or not.
On Monday, Priyank Panchal, veteran Gujarat batter and former India A captain, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, ending a domestic career that lasted nearly two decades.
Thirty-five-year-old Panchal may not be as popular as “RoKo”, but he was an institution in himself in Gujarat and the statistics speak for itself.
In 127 first class matches, he amassed 8,856 runs at an impressive average of 45.18, including 29 centuries and 34 fifties. In List A cricket, he featured in 97 matches, scoring 3,672 runs at 40.80 with eight centuries, while also adding 1,522 runs in 59 T20s.
Despite not making it to the Indian senior team, Panchal remained a fixture in the India A setup, often captaining the side and mentoring younger talents. His most memorable season came in 2016-17, when he amassed a staggering 1,310 runs in the Ranji Trophy, including a career-best 314 not out – the first triple century by a Gujarat batter in the competition’s history. Gujarat went on to lift their maiden Ranji Trophy title that season.
This right-handed batsman also featured in Gujarat’s title-winning campaigns in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (2015-16) and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (2012-13 and 2013-14), solidifying his reputation as a dependable top-order batter.
The announcement by him was emotional and came two days after India’s squad for series against England was announced. “Over and out. Onto greener pastures now,” he titled his post on X in which he spoke about the encouragement given by his late father, thanked mother, sister and wife and spoke about how the page can promise to be better.
In his farewell note, Panchal wrote: “It’s an emotional moment. It’s an enriching moment. And it’s a moment which fills me with a lot of gratitude. To, most importantly, my fans. I always read all the messages coming my way from your end. Many of you talk fondly about wanting to see me in India colours. It’s with this steadfast motivation that I continued my journey till now.”
In a deeply personal passage, Panchal recalled the influence of his late father. “But, the book is not wrapped up. Anyone who knows me, knows how much of a bibliophile I am. No matter how exciting a chapter of a book is, the next one always promises to be better. I hope my book follows the same ,” wrote Panchal in a note on his social media accounts.
“I was no different. My dad was a long-lasting source of strength for me. I was moved by the energy that he gave me, the way he encouraged me to pursue my dreams, to rise from a relatively small city and dare to aspire to wear the India cap one day. He left us long ago, and it was a dream I carried with me for nearly two decades, season after season, until today,” added Panchal.
This last line by Panchal reflects how much he wanted to be part of India’s playing XI.
He also extended heartfelt thanks to his mother, sister, and wife, acknowledging their unwavering support throughout his career.
“To, my mom, and my sister. The two of them have been staunchly standing beside me, propelling me to become the best version of myself. They saw the glitter in my eyes when I sweated it out in the scorching summers of Ahmedabad, rushing from one ground to another to play competitive games, ever since I was a teenager.”
“As I progressed through the ranks, they lifted me up when I felt like I was sinking. They gave me the buoyancy to fly when I did well. They kept me grounded, but never let the confidence in me recede at any given point in time. I could not have done this without you two.”
“To, my wife, and her family, which is my family now. I found companionship, love, and a partner for life. Someone who understood me – my strengths, weaknesses, joys, fears, dreams, everything above and beyond.”
Panchal’s post on X had several comments. Vikrant Gupta, senior sports journalist, wrote, “Good luck for the second innings Priyank. Wish you could have played for India”. Former pacer, Irfan Pathan, wrote, “Well done. Good luck for the next chapter of your life”.
Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) secretary Anil Patel congratulated Panchal on a “fantastic career,” saying, “Priyank has donned the national colours for India A as captain and was a prolific run-scorer for Gujarat for more than 17 years.”
Panchal was a sports quota recrutee in Gujarat Income Tax Department in 2014.
He had many awards to his credit, including the BCCI’s Madhavrao Scindia Award for being the highest scorer in the Ranji Trophy season of 2016-17.
