Former Haryana star Jayant Yadav has ended his 14-year-long association with the state cricket team, marking a new chapter in his career as he joins Puducherry ahead of the upcoming domestic season. This move comes after a distinguished career with Haryana, where Yadav excelled across all formats.
Jayant Yadav’s Career Highlights and Achievements
Jayant Yadav, the 34-year-old off-spinner, first made a mark in domestic cricket back in 2011. As a 21-year-old, he debuted for Haryana and went on to play 60 first-class matches, 68 T20s, and 50 List A games, taking 266 wickets across all formats. Of these, 174 wickets came in first-class cricket. His all-round ability made him an invaluable asset to the team, with impressive performances both with the ball and bat.
In addition to his success in domestic cricket, Yadav also earned a call-up to the Indian national team. His Test debut came in 2016, and he went on to make six Test appearances, claiming 16 wickets and even scoring a remarkable Test century against England at Wankhede. This century was particularly memorable as he shared a massive 241-run stand with Virat Kohli at No.9, a partnership that became part of Indian cricketing folklore.
Despite his early promise in the international arena, Jayant has not featured in a Test since 2022 and has struggled to make his way into the limited-overs setup.
Why the Move to Puducherry?
Jayant’s decision to switch to Puducherry seems to be driven by his desire to play all three formats regularly. Although he last featured in T20 cricket for Haryana in 2023 and List A cricket in 2022, his move to Puducherry provides him with a fresh opportunity to revive his career and play a more central role across formats.
As part of the Gujarat Titans (GT) squad in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Jayant has continued to play a role in the T20 circuit, but it is the opportunity to shine in domestic competitions that seems to have motivated the move. With Puducherry, he hopes to once again get consistent game time and perhaps regain his spot in the national squad.
Jayant Yadav’s shift to Puducherry is a significant moment in Indian domestic cricket, marking the end of an era with Haryana and the start of a promising new chapter for the off-spinner.
