Will Vijay Shankar Join European Cricket League Post Retirement?

Hailing from Tirunelveli, Vijay Shankar officially announced his retirement from domestic cricket and the IPL through an emotional social media statement, bringing an end to a long career that included representing India at the 2019 ODI World Cup. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder thanked the BCCI, IPL teams, coaches, teammates and fans while reflecting on his journey from domestic cricket to the international stage.

In his note, Shankar wrote, “Cricket is my life,” while also confirming that he wants to “pursue new opportunities and play more cricket” after retirement from the Indian circuit.

Will Vijay Shankar Join European Cricket League?

Shankar’s retirement statement has ignited debate about whether he could feature in overseas franchise competitions like the European Cricket League. In his post, he clearly mentioned that he had “decided to retire from playing domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League to pursue new opportunities and play more cricket,” which hints at continuing his career in international leagues outside India.

One of the best all-rounders in India also opened up about the emotional side of his journey, saying, “I have faced unreal hate and negativity,” before adding, “Think positive and work hard. Cricket has taught me life.”

Although there has been no official confirmation about the European Cricket League specifically, Shankar now becomes eligible to explore franchise opportunities across global T10 and T20 competitions following his retirement from Indian domestic cricket. Vijay Shankar in European Cricket League became a major talking point among cricket fans as the experienced Indian all-rounder showcased his talent and leadership on the international T10 stage.

Vijay Shankar International Career

Vijay Shankar represented India in both ODI and T20I cricket between 2018 and 2019 and was part of the country’s squad for the 2019 ODI World Cup. One of the best all-rounders in IPL, played 12 ODIs, scoring 223 runs at an average of 31.85, with a highest score of 46. He also picked up four wickets with his medium pace bowling. In T20Is, Shankar featured in nine matches and scored 101 runs at a strike rate above 138 while also taking five wickets.

One of the biggest moments of his career came during the 2019 World Cup against Pakistan when he dismissed Imam-ul-Haq with the very first ball he bowled in the tournament. Across one of the best cricket leagues in the world, IPL, Shankar played 78 matches and scored 1233 runs with seven half-centuries.