Vijay Shankar Bids Farewell to Tamil Nadu Cricket After 13 Years, Seeks New Opportunities

In a significant development for the Indian domestic cricket circuit, seasoned all-rounder Vijay Shankar has been granted a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), bringing an end to his 13-year-long tenure with the state team. Shankar is now poised to move to a new team for the upcoming 2025-26 domestic season, a decision reportedly motivated by his pursuit of more consistent playing opportunities across various formats.

Shankar's decision to leave comes after a period of limited game time, which saw him notably excluded from the second round of the Buchi Babu Tournament, despite having participated in the opening round for the TNCA President's XI against Himachal Pradesh. This recent instance is part of a broader pattern from the previous season, where he was sidelined for the initial Ranji Trophy matches and spent a considerable amount of time on the bench during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Reflecting on his time with Tamil Nadu, Shankar played a pivotal role in the team's successes. He notably captained the side to victories in prestigious domestic tournaments, including the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, showcasing his leadership and all-round capabilities.

One of his recent standout performances for Tamil Nadu included a career-best score. As noted in the caption of an image during the last Ranji season, Vijay Shankar scored a career-best 150* in the last Ranji season.

His departure marks the end of an era for Tamil Nadu cricket and opens a new chapter for Shankar, who will be looking to re-establish himself as a regular feature in a new team's playing XI.