Yuzvendra Chahal announced his retirement from first-class cricket on Friday, October 2, 2026, bringing an end to a red-ball career that spanned 49 matches and yielded 148 wickets. The leg-spinner made the announcement via Instagram, confirming that he is not stepping away from white-ball cricket and intends to pursue opportunities in ODI and T20 formats.
Chahal played his final first-class match for Northamptonshire in the County Championship Division Two against Middlesex at Lord's, a fixture that concluded on September 26, 2026. He claimed two wickets in that match. The announcement came at the end of a three-year stint with Northamptonshire, during which he represented the county in English domestic red-ball cricket.
"The first cricket ball I ever held was a red ball. I was 10 years old, and I had no idea then how deeply I would fall in love with this game. For me, red-ball cricket was never just another format. It was where I learned the meaning of patience, character, resilience and the pure joy of being out there for hours, fighting for every run and every wicket. I played my last First-Class match at Lords, saying these words is emotional as a Test cap was always a dream, one that I carried with me for many years. It may not have happened, but I am genuinely content with the journey I have had and incredibly grateful for every opportunity that came my way in this format. The red ball gave me some of the most beautiful memories of my life, and nothing will ever take that away," Chahal wrote in a post on Instagram.
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What did Chahal's first-class career look like in numbers?
Chahal's first-class record reflects a consistent wicket-taking ability across 49 matches. He finished with 148 wickets, registering six five-wicket hauls during that period. His best figures in an innings stood at 6/44, underlining his capacity to take multiple wickets in a single spell on red-ball pitches.
His final appearance at Lord's, where he took two wickets against Middlesex, served as a fitting venue to close out a format he had pursued alongside his white-ball career. Chahal had represented Haryana in domestic red-ball cricket in India before his county engagements, and he acknowledged the Haryana Cricket Association in his retirement statement for their support throughout his journey in the format.
What does Chahal's white-ball future look like?
Chahal has been clear that his retirement applies only to first-class cricket. He stated in his announcement that he believes he has cricket left in him and will work to earn another opportunity in ODI and T20 formats. His last international appearance came in August 2023 against West Indies, and he has not represented India at international level since then.
Across 152 matches for India in ODIs and T20Is, Chahal claimed 217 wickets, making him one of the more prolific white-ball spinners to represent the country. He was also part of India's 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad. At 36, Chahal's focus now shifts entirely to limited-overs cricket as he looks to add to that international record.
"But I AM NOT DONE YET. The hunger to play for my country is still very much alive. I believe I have the cricket left in me, and I will give everything I have to earn another opportunity in the One-Day and T20 formats. A special thank you to the Haryana Cricket Association, Mr. Ranbir Singh Mahindra Sir and Mr. Anirudh Singh Chaudhary Sir for their continuous support, trust and belief throughout my journey. From a 10-year-old holding his first red ball to playing his final First-Class game, it has been one hell of a journey," he added.