Vijay Shankar joins Lanka Premier League side Kandy Royals days after retirement

Former Indian all-rounder Vijay Shankar is set to feature in the upcoming edition of the Lanka Premier League after being signed by Kandy Royals. The development comes just days after Shankar announced his retirement from both international and domestic cricket. In an emotional social media post, the all-rounder said he was ready to explore new opportunities and continue playing more cricket.

He signed off as ‘Your 3D Cricketer’, a reference to the tag associated with him during the 2019 ODI World Cup selection debates and reflected on his journey and expressed gratitude for the support he received throughout his career.

“You’ve seen him before in the heat of battle… but never like this. Different stage. Same calm fire. Now entering Kandy Royals," LPL wrote on X.

Shankar represented India in 12 ODIs and nine T20Is after making his international debut against Sri Lanka national cricket team in 2018. His final appearance for India came during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup clash against the West Indies cricket team. Across both formats, the all-rounder scored 324 runs and picked up nine wickets, including a memorable spell of 2/22 against Pakistan national cricket team in the World Cup.

In the IPL, Shankar enjoyed a lengthy career, scoring 1,233 runs and taking nine wickets. His final appearance in the league came for Chennai Super Kings in 2025. Over the years, he also represented Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Delhi Capitals.

Following his retirement, Shankar thanked the Board of Control for Cricket in India, his teammates, coaches, and the domestic sides he represented, including Tamil Nadu and Tripura. He also fondly recalled special milestones in his career, such as bowling the final over in India’s 500th ODI in Nagpur and taking a wicket with the very first ball he delivered in the 2019 World Cup.