Former India all-rounder turns heads on Lanka Premier League debut with fiery knock

Vijay Shankar announced his arrival in the 2026 Lanka Premier League (LPL) with an explosive, unbeaten cameo of 18-ball 41 for the Kandy Royals in their tournament opener. Tasked with pursuing a daunting target of 206 set by the Dambulla Sixers, the former Indian all-rounder, who was making his LPL debut, walked out to bat at the fall of captain Wanindu Hasaranga's wicket, slotting into the lower-middle order at number seven.

Vijay Shankar impresses on Lanka Premier League debut

The equation was heavily stacked against Kandy upon his arrival, requiring a demanding 84 runs from just 33 balls. Shankar wasted no time settling in, signaling his aggressive intent by boundary-hitting his third delivery. Even as the required run rate mounted dramatically, he managed to keep the scoreboard ticking by finding the fence twice more in the following two overs, quickly racing to 17 runs off his first eight balls.

ALSO READ: Watch: Rohit Sharma's reaction finally ends suspense over retirement speculations, video breaks internet

Kandy's pursuit suffered a fatal blow in the 18th over with the dismissal of Dale Phillips, who departed after a well-made 52. Left with too much to do, Shankar single-handedly kept the pressure on the bowlers by clearing the ropes three times in the space of eight deliveries. Despite his late-innings fireworks, the Royals ran out of deliveries and finished their innings at 187-6, falling 18 runs short of win.

How did Vijay Shankar land himself in LPL?

By formally stepping away from the IPL and domestic cricket earlier this year, the veteran all-rounder cleared the necessary administrative hurdles to take part in the Lanka Premier League. This strategic retirement was a direct response to the BCCI's stringent framework, which dictates that any Indian cricketer wishing to secure a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for foreign T20 leagues must first completely sever their active playing ties at home.

ALSO READ: Watch: Gambhir-Rohit's lighthearted moment at Lord's balcony goes viral amidst retirement chatter

Capitalizing on this newfound availability, the Kandy Royals acted aggressively in the market. Acknowledging the depth and utility he brings to a T20 lineup, the franchise snapped him up as a marquee acquisition almost immediately after his retirement papers were filed.

His journey to the global league circuit is backed by a solid international pedigree, highlighted by his 21 appearances for India across limited-overs formats from 2018 to 2019. This stint included nine T20Is and 12 ODIs, crowned by his inclusion in India’s high-profile 2019 ICC ODI World Cup campaign.