Former Team India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has made important comments regarding the professional cricket career of Yuzvendra Chahal. Pathan said that since the spinner had done some commentary duties with him during the T20 World Cup 2026, fans assumed that the spin magician might announce his retirement from international cricket soon.
Yuzvendra Chahal is all set to play for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2026 season. This experienced spinner played an important role in the team’s excellent performance last season. Chahal, one of the most influential spinners in the league, will try his best to have another great season.
Yuzvendra Chahal has been out of Team India for a long time
While talking on Star Sports, Irfan Pathan praised Yuzvendra Chahal and called him the most successful spinner in the history of the Indian Premier League. The Haryana-born, who has been a key figure in the IPL, has been out of the national camp for the last few years. His last international appearance came during the West Indies tour in 2023.
Chahal has been left out of the national team in every format since India’s victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup. With quality spinners like Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, there is no place for the 35-year-old in the plans of head coach Gautam Gambhir and T20I team captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Will Yuzvendra Chahal retire soon?
While the Men in Blue were working hard on the field during the recently concluded T20 World Cup, Yuzvendra Chahal was commentating with some former cricketers, forcing cricket fans to believe that he might be considering retirement from international cricket. Pathan said that whenever an active player does commentary, fans think that he might be quitting cricket.
“He is the most successful bowler in IPL history, and he has not played regularly for India. So, this thought will always be in his heart, and it should be for any player. Yuzi would also be thinking that he was commentating with us, and whenever an active player does commentary, fans think that he might be quitting cricket,” Irfan Pathan said.
The former cricketer further claimed that the leggie is fit and focused to play for Punjab Kings, who finished their IPL 2025 campaign as runners-up.
Irfan Pathan said, “Yuzi is fully focused, fully prepared for this IPL season, and he would like to improve his performance, and he will be out on the field to prove a point.”
PBKS’s first IPL 2026 match will be against Gujarat Titans.
In IPL 2025, Chahal had a very poor start, which he soon turned into an effective season, taking 16 wickets in 14 matches, including best figures of 4/28.
He took wickets during crucial moments of the matches, using all his experience gained through international and franchise games. PBKS will play its first IPL 2026 against Gujarat Titans on March 31 at the Maharaja Yadvendra Singh PCA Stadium, Mullanpur.
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