Indian all-rounder Vijay Shankar, who represented India, Tamil Nadu, and Tripura throughout a career marked by dramatic highs and intense public scrutiny, has officially announced his retirement from all forms of competitive cricket. Releasing a comprehensive statement on social media, the veteran cricketer detailed his desire to pursue new opportunities and continue to “play more cricket” in different capacities. This came after he was released by Chennai Super Kings before the IPL 2026 auction, where he remained unsold.
A Career Of Memorable Milestones
Looking back at his time on the international stage, Shankar made his debut against Sri Lanka in 2018 and played his final match for the Men in Blue against the West Indies during the 2019 World Cup. Across his international career, he featured in 12 One Day Internationals and nine T20 Internationals, accumulating a total of 324 runs and claiming nine wickets.
His time on the field was punctuated by several special moments that etched his name into Indian cricket history. He fondly recalled the immense pressure of bowling the final over in India’s 500th ODI in Nagpur, the thrill of taking a wicket with his very first delivery in a World Cup, and delivering a memorable, crucial spell of 2/22 against arch-rivals Pakistan during the 2019 marquee tournament.
In his IPL career, Vijay Shankar amassed 1,233 runs and taking nine wickets over his Indian Premier League career. His IPL journey saw him donning the jerseys of multiple franchises, including the Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and the Gujarat Titans, before finally concluding his run with his home side, the Chennai Super Kings, in 2025.
Besides his IPL endeavours, he was a stalwart in domestic circles, representing Tamil Nadu, Tripura, and competing in the Tamil Nadu Premier League. In his statement, Shankar expressed his profound gratitude to the BCCI, the Indian national team, and every domestic and franchise squad he has ever represented.
‘Your 3D Cricketer’
Beyond the statistics and the accolades on the pitch, Shankar took the time to acknowledge the vital people behind the scenes. He extended his thanks to the coaches, support staff, physios, trainers, media personnel, and doctors who helped him along the way. Most importantly, he reserved his deepest appreciation for his family and friends, noting that words simply could not do justice to their unwavering support as they stuck by him through “literally thick and thin.”
Addressing the heavy criticism and public vitriol he endured during his career, Shankar offered an inspiring message of resilience. He candidly admitted to facing “unreal hate and negativity,” but emphasized that he consciously chose to ignore the noise and move forward, hoping to encourage others to maintain a positive mindset. “If I can do that, anyone can!” he declared. He ultimately concluded his heartfelt farewell with a tribute to the sport that defined his life, writing, “Cricket has taught me life. Cricket is my life,” remaining forever grateful and blessed as “Your 3D cricketer, Vijay Shankar.”
This was a reference to when erstwhile chief selector MSK Prasad justified the call of picking Vijay Shankar over Ambati Rayudu in the India squad for the 2019 ODI World Cup, because the all-rounder was a 3D cricketer.
