35-Year-Old Batter Who Replaced Rohit Sharma During 2021 South Africa Test Series Announces Retirement

Veteran batter Priyank Panchal has officially retired from all forms of professional cricket, the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) confirmed on Monday, May 26, 2025.

The 35-year-old right-handed opener, a stalwart of Gujarat's domestic cricket for nearly two decades, leaves behind a remarkable legacy across formats. Panchal featured in 127 First-Class games, accumulating 8,856 runs at an impressive average of 45.18. His red-ball career includes 29 centuries and 34 half-centuries.

In the limited-overs formats, Panchal was equally dependable. He played 97 List A matches, tallying 3,672 runs at an average of 40.80, which included eight centuries and 21 fifties. In the shortest format, T20s, he appeared in 59 games, scoring 1,522 runs at 28.71, with nine fifties to his name.

Confirming his retirement, GCA Secretary Anil Patel said, "The Gujarat Cricket Association congratulates Mr. Priyank Panchal on a fantastic career. The batter has announced his retirement from all formats of cricket on Sunday, May 26, 2025."

Panchal's contribution to Indian domestic cricket goes beyond the numbers. He captained both Gujarat and the India A team, consistently proving his mettle as a top-order batter. His breakout season came in the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy, where he amassed a staggering 1,310 runs. That campaign also saw him notch up his career-best score of 314 not out, playing a key role in Gujarat's maiden Ranji Trophy triumph.

In January 2021, Priyank Panchal was selected as one of the five standby players for India's Test squad ahead of the home series against England. Later that year, in November, he was appointed captain of the India A team for their tour of South Africa.

His consistent performances earned him a call-up to the senior national side in December 2021 when he was named in India's Test squad for the South Africa series as a replacement for the injured Rohit Sharma, who was sidelined due to a hamstring issue. Continuing his presence in the national setup, Panchal was also included in the Test squad for India's home series against Sri Lanka in February 2022.

He was also a key figure in Gujarat's limited-overs success, helping the team clinch the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2015-16 and the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 titles in 2012-13 and 2013-14.

Having served Gujarat cricket for over 17 years, Panchal now steps away from the game as one of the most consistent performers in India's domestic scene.