Vijay Shankar announces retirement from domestic and IPL cricket

Veteran all-rounder Vijay Shankar announced his retirement from domestic and Indian Premier League cricket on Friday, concluding a 15-year professional career. The 35-year-old, who represented India in 12 One-Day Internationals and nine Twenty20 Internationals, stated he is seeking new challenges overseas while he still has playing years remaining.

In a statement, Shankar expressed gratitude for his journey, which began with the dream of earning a cap for Tamil Nadu and culminated in playing for India. He specifically thanked his coach, S. Balaji, and his family for their support. His domestic career was distinguished by leadership, having captained Tamil Nadu to victories in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the Deodhar Trophy in 2017, and the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 title in the 2021-22 season. He spent his final domestic season representing Tripura.

Shankar's international career included a memorable appearance in the 2019 ODI World Cup, where he played against Pakistan. His selection for that tournament was a subject of significant discussion at the time, as he was chosen over fellow cricketer Ambati Rayudu. The then-chairman of the national selection committee, MSK Prasad, publicly...