Priyank Panchal is a cricketer from India who represents the Gujarat team in the domestic circuit. He gained the limelight after getting selected as a third opener in the Indian Test team in place of injured Rohit Sharma for the tour of South Africa beginning 26 December 2021 to 15 January 2022. Basically, he is a right-handed batter who occasionally bowls right-arm medium pace for his team.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Priyank Panchal was born on Sunday, 9 April 1990 (age 33 years; as of 2023) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. His zodiac sign is Aries. He started playing cricket at a very young age and got good support from his father. His father maintained a very strict diet for him to ensure his fitness at the optimum level. The first time, he started playing was in the Polly Umrigar Trophy for the Under-15 squad. Thereon, he started competing at the higher level and soon bagged his place in the Ranji squad for Gujarat. He was part of the Gujarat side that won the Ranji title in 2016 where Priyank emerged as the highest run-getter. He also remained the captain of the India Red side in the Duleep Trophy that went on to win the tournament in September 2019.
Priyank Panchal along with Abhimanyu Easwaran on the occasion of Duleep Trophy’s final on 7 September 2019
Priyank Panchal as an India Red Captain with the Duleep title on 7 September 2019
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 8″
Weight (approx.): 70 kg
Hair Colour: Dark Brown
Eye Colour: Natural Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
Priyank Panchal’s father name is Kirit Panchal. He died when Priyank was 15 years old due to cardiac arrest. His mother’s name is unknown.
Priyank Panchal with his mother and sister
He has an elder sister whose name is Brinda Panchal and she is a fashion designer.
Priyank Panchal with his sister
Career
Record
The first player to score a triple century for Gujarat in November 2016. [1]India Today
Stats
Batting Stats
First-class
Matches- 100
Innings- 163
Runs- 7011
Highest Score- 314*
Average- 45.52
Ball Faced- 13290
Strike rate- 52.75%
100s- 24
50s- 25
4s- 885
6s- 49
List-A
Matches- 75
Innings- 75
Runs- 2854
Highest Score- 135*
Average- 40.19
Ball Faced- 3622
Strike rate- 78.79%
100s- 5
50s- 18
4s- 305
6s- 28
T20
Matches- 50
Innings- 49
Runs- 1327
Highest Score- 79
Average- 29.48
Ball Faced- 1045
Strike rate- 126.98
100s- 0
50s- 8
4s- 147
6s- 30
Bowling Stats
First-class
Matches- 100
Innings- 53
Balls- 1638
Runs- 761
Wickets- 14
Best Bowling in an Inning- 3/0
Best Bowling in a Match- 4/20
Bowling Average- 54.35
Economy- 2.78
Strike rate- 1170%
List-A
Matches- 75
Innings- 12
Balls- 166
Runs- 123
Wickets- 4
Best Bowling in an Inning- 1/0
Best Bowling in a Match- 1/0
Bowling Average- 30.75
Economy- 4.44
Strike rate- 41.50%
T20
Matches- 50
Innings- 6
Balls- 66
Runs- 83
Wickets- 4
Best Bowling in an Inning- 4/19
Best Bowling in a Match- 4/19
Bowling Average- 20.75
Economy- 7.54
Strike rate- 16.50%
Domestic Teams
- India A
- India B
- India Green
- India Red
- West Zone
- Gujarat
- Abahani Limited
Priyank Panchal got his place in the Indian side for the tour of South Africa 2021/22. Talking about his inclusion, he said,
“It was just three days back that I returned home from South Africa. I hadn’t even unpacked properly, and now, I find myself landing in Mumbai (to join the team India bio-bubble). “I’ve been doing well since the last few years for Gujarat and India ‘A’ and I’ve been waiting for this chance for many years, but I didn’t expect to get this chance. This is a pleasant surprise.”
However, it’s not the first time that he is representing India on an international platform. Before that, in January 2021, he was part of the squad as a reserve player for the tour of England. Also, he was once part of the Indian dressing room for a Nagpur Test in 2012 as a cover replacement.
Priyank Panchal batting
His first major tournament was a 2003-04 Polly Umrigar Trophy at the Under-15 level. In 2005-06, he played at the Under-17 level in 2005-06 Vijay Merchant Trophy. In this tournament, he scored a century. On 27 February 2008, he made his List-A debut for Gujarat against Maharashtra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy where he scored 123 runs off 115 balls which included 17 fours and one six.
Priyank Panchal posing with his team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Priyank; 6th from right standing
In the following season, he featured in his first Ranji match against Saurashtra which was won by his team; Gujarat by an inning margin. He scored the most runs in the Ranji Trophy season 2016-17 with 1310 runs in 17 innings with an average of 87.33 which, helped Gujarat to win their maiden title in the Ranji Trophy. In the same season, he scored 314 runs against Punjab which earned him the title for being the first triple centurion for Gujarat ever.
Priyank Panchal raising his bat after scoring his century in Ranji Trophy 2018-19 final
Priyank Panchal received a warm welcome from his teammates after scoring 314 runs against Punjab
After scoring most runs for his team, he said,
“If my father was alive today, he would have been proud to see me reach this level and score so many runs for Gujarat.”
He then played for India Green in the 2018-19 Duleep Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. In Vijay Hazare Trophy, he emerged as the highest run-scorer for Gujarat with 367 runs in eight games. In August 2019, he became the captain of the India Red team in the 2019-20 Duleep Trophy. In October 2019, he played the 2019-20 Deodhar Trophy for India-B. In 2019, Priyank Panchal scored gritty 160 runs against Sri Lanka at home. In the following year, he scored a century for India A against New Zealand A at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. In the second unofficial test at Port of Spain against West Indies A, he scored 58 and 68 runs in both innings respectively at a time when 19 wickets fell on the same day.
Award
Madhavrao Scindia Award for being the highest scorer during the 2016-17 Ranji season.
Favourites
- Batting Shot: Straight Drive
- Cricketer(s): Rahul Dravid, Jasprit Bumrah
- Cricket Ground: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Sports: Golf, Kabaddi
- Author: Robin Sharma
- Food: Pav Bhaji
- Singer: Neha Kakkar, Arijit Singh
Facts/Trivia
- His father died when he was 15 years old, but he didn’t give up and maintained his focus on the game. Talking about him, he told during an interview that,
“My father loved cricket and his contribution to my life can’t be described in words. He has helped me reach where I am today and his absence made me even stronger.”
- Besides being a professional cricketer, Priyank Panchal works as a tax assistant at the income tax office in Ahmedabad. He got this government job through a Sports quota in 2014.
- During his starting days as a cricketer, ex-Gujarati Ranji player Kiran Brahmbhatt was his coach with whom he was coached for four years.
- Besides cricket, he is a science geek who is fascinated by artificial intelligence, robotics, algorithms on how stock markets work, and how airfares rise and fall.
- He is also an avid reader and writer. He has a large collection of books in his house which, he often reads when he gets time. He also has a habit of writing a diary every day where he writes daily motivational quotes to stay motivated and also update his daily experiences.
Priyank Panchal collection of books
- He is highly fascinated with science. He has an interest in artificial intelligence, robotics, algorithms on how stock markets work, and how airfares rise and fall.
References
| ↑1 | India Today |
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