Domestic stalwart Priyank Panchal retires with 8,856 first-class runs — was he one of the unluckiest players to never play for India?
It feels like the season of retirements in India. After the recent announcements of veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring from Test cricket, First-Class veteran Priyank Panchal called time on his career from all forms of cricket. He remained in contention to win the India Test cap for a number of seasons, but had to end his career without one.
He was named Rohit Sharma’s replacement for the South Africa tour in 2021-22 but the Test cap eluded him. “Playing for India was the ultimate dream, but I realised that the chance may have bypassed me,” Panchal was quoted as saying. “Once that clarity was there, it didn’t make sense carrying on.”
Panchal leaves with tons of First-Class runs
Nevertheless, Panchal enjoyed a stellar First-Class career and was part of the Gujarat squad that won their only Ranji Trophy in 2016-17 under the captaincy of Parthiv Patel. Panchal was the highest run-getter that Ranji season with 1310 runs at an average of 87.33 with five tons and four fifties including the highest score of 314* in 10 matches. He was also part of the squad that won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2014-15 and Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2015-16.
Overall, Panchal is the seventh highest run-getter in Ranji Trophy with 5920 runs at the average of 49.33 with 21 tons and 23 fifties in 77 matches. In 127 First-Class matches, Panchal had made 8856 runs at the average of 45.18 with 29 tons and 34 fifties.
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Panchal’s impactful Ranji career
Panchal was consistent in Ranji Trophy. Here’s a look at his top Ranji seasons in terms of runs.
Panchal’s performance for India A and other formats
Panchal also played and captained India A. He is the fifth highest run-getter for India A in First-Class cricket.
Here’s a look at his record in First Class cricket for India A:
Panchal also played List A cricket and T20 cricket, and did well for a batter who found his calling in the red-ball cricket.
Here’s a look at Panchal’s record across formats:
Panchal played in the era of Rohits, Jaiswals and Gills
Panchal was in the reckoning for India debut post the 2016-17 Ranji season when he emerged the highest run-getter in the tournament. He was even selected for the 2021-2022 tour of South Africa as a replacement for Rohit. But the Test cap remained a distant dream. It could be argued Panchal played in the era when India cricket saw the rise of Rohit, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill as Test openers. Hence, along with another good opening batter Abhimanyu Easwaran, Panchal too remained in the sidelines and could never lay his hands over the Test cap. Nevertheless, Panchal remains in Indian cricket history as one of the top openers to never play for India.
Over and out. Onto greener pastures now. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/5uMiZVprql
— Priyank Panchal (@PKpanchal09) May 26, 2025
What the future lies ahead of Panchal
In his retirement note, Panchal wrote, “Over and out. Onto greener pastures now.” It implies that although Panchal is retiring from all forms of cricket, he is probably contemplating a move to stay with the game, but in a different role and capacity. Panchal is just 35 and could take up various roles as a mentor or a coach for various teams across formats. It’s not the end of Panchal, and we could see him be attached to the sport in some form or the other.
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