Out of nowhere, Vijay Shankar joins Kandy Royals ahead of the Lanka Premier League. Just days after stepping away from Indian cricket at age thirty-five, he lands with a franchise team abroad. This move happens to be a first – never before has someone who played internationally for India taken part in this Sri Lankan competition. His arrival shifts attention without warning.
Out of nowhere, the franchise spilled news online, tagging Shankar in a slick cartoon tease before match season kicks off. Their message suggested things are shifting for the player – something new stirring behind the scenes.
“You’ve seen him before in the heat of battle… but never like this. Different stage. Same calm fire. Now entering Kandy Royals,” the social media post read.
Vijay Shankar’s Career and Retirement from Indian Cricket
For now, Shankar has closed the chapter on his playing days, which saw him represent India in limited-overs cricket and play for multiple IPL teams. Though leaving first-class and global matches behind, he emphasized staying connected to cricket by exploring different roles within the sport.
That player appeared in twelve one-day games for India, starting when he faced Sri Lanka back in 2018. The last time he wore the national jersey was at the 2019 ODI World Cup, playing versus the West Indies. Over those matches, he gathered three hundred twenty-four runs on bat. Nine times he dismissed a batter while bowling for the team.
A bright spot in his global journey happened at a World Cup match versus Pakistan – he took two wickets for just 22 runs. Then there was Nagpur, late in the game, when he bowled the last over of India’s five hundredth one-day international. That moment stayed with him; he wrote about it near the close of his goodbye note.
Back in the IPL, Shankar played across several teams, scoring 1233 runs while chipping in with nine wickets. The last time he stepped onto the field was during 2025 with Chennai Super Kings. Though he entered the draft for 2026, not a single team picked him up – no call came, not even to fill in for someone else.
“Cricket is my life. I started playing when I was 10, and 25 years later, I am grateful and blessed to have played at every level and to the highest level. Representing our country will always be one of my proudest and happiest moments,” Shankar’s retirement letter read.
He gave thanks to the BCCI, first off. The Indian team came next in his mention. Teams at home mattered too, so he named them. Tamil Nadu stood out early on. Later years brought ties to Tripura. His IPL journey included a few stops along the way. One was with Gujarat Titans. Another chapter unfolded at Sunrisers Hyderabad. Delhi Capitals held a place in that list. Then there was Chennai Super Kings, closing the circle