“For a long time, it was in my mind” - Veteran domestic batter retirements from all formats of cricket

Former India A batter and veteran of 127 First Class games, 97 List A games, and 59 T20s, Priyank Panchal has decided to call it quits across all formats of the game after giving his best but not making it to international cricket.

Panchal was one of the consistent batters for his state team Gujarat, winning multiple matches with his exceptional batting skills. However, he was never considered for the International team, which prompted him to bid adieu to the game.

While Panchal came close to making his international debut on the South African tour in the 2021-22 season, he didn’t get that elusive cap. Moreover, he asserted that it is not going to happen anymore.

https://x.com/PKpanchal09/status/1926972208913543590 

Priyank Panchal, in an exclusive conversation with the Hindustan Times, admitted that he was thinking of calling it quits for a long time. He added that the failure to make it to the Indian team remains a regret for him.

"For a long time, it was in my mind that I should retire. Because, when I started playing cricket, there was a driving force that I wanted to play for India. Along with the driving force, there was discipline and dedication. But after a point, I got practical, I didn't think that it was possible. I tried my best. I mean, I played for India A, and I played in the Ranji Trophy. But I realised it's time now. It's not going to happen anymore," he said.

"Not being able to play is definitely a regret. But at the same time, it is also an achievement. If the cricketing level is from 1-10, I was there till 9. I couldn't play. Obviously, it is a regret. But sharing the dressing room with Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin was a big deal. It was a very professional environment. At the same time, it was very welcoming. It was very competitive. I learned a lot from that environment," he added.

"Obviously, consistency is important. It is important to perform as a player. But it is also important to perform at the right time. In international cricket, timing is very important. If you are consistently scoring 100 after 100, but your team is not winning, that is not the right time. But even if you are scoring 30 runs but your team is winning, your contribution holds great value. That is the requirement for international cricket. I learned a lot from that," he concluded.

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