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When Gujarat Legend Priyank Panchal Replaced Rohit Sharma In The India Test Squad

Abhinav Tyagi

Priyank Panchal - (Source: @Johns/X.com)Priyank Panchal - (Source: @Johns/X.com)

On Monday, May 26, Gujarat legend Priyank Panchal announced his retirement from cricket. The 35-year-old took to social media platform to bid adieu to the game. Notably, Panchal will go down in history as one of the greats, who never made his debut for the Indian team.

Panchal, who made his professional debut in 2008, has played 127 first-class matches and scored nearly 9000 runs with 29 centuries. However, despite his heroics, the 35-year-old never made his debut, but came close in 2021, when he was called-up to the national team, replacing Rohit Sharma. 

When Priyank Replaced Rohit Sharma In The Indian Team

In 2021, India had a series against South Africa and then vice-captain, Rohit Sharma, was ruled out of the series because of a hamstring injury. Further, the BCCI replaced Rohit with Priyank Panchal, who was doing well for India A and was also scoring runs in the domestic circuit. 

"Thank you everyone for all your good wishes. Honoured to be donning the team India jersey. Thank you for showing faith in me @BCCI. Looking forward to the series!," Priyank had tweeted back then.

However, despite an India call-up, Priyank failed to get a match in that series and since then he was not called up to feature in Test cricket. However, before the South Africa tour, Panchal was part of India's tour to England, where he was part of an extended squad and went to Europe as a stand-by player. 

Meanwhile, now with his retirement, he joins the elite list of players who ruled domestic cricket, but never made their India debut.