Veteran all-rounder Vijay Shankar finally disclosed the reason behind parting ways from Tamin Nadu in a shocking move. Recently, he announced his exit from Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2025-26 domestic season. The 34-year-old has been granted a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), allowing him to explore opportunities with a new team. The decision comes after Shankar's limited opportunities with the state team. He recently played for the TNCA President's XI in the Buchi Babu tournament but was dropped from the squad for the second round. Seeking more chances to play across all formats, he has now decided to make a move to Tripura.
trying to still fight it out to play in this setup was quite difficult: Vijay Shankar on Tamil Nadu exit
When asked about what triggered his shocking decision to part ways with Tamil Nadu he said he never got any secure feeling when it came to selectors.
“Except for TNCA officials I never got any secure feeling when it comes to the selectors or whoever was there. So, at one point, I decided I need to take a call. I was happy that at least our coach (M Senthilnathan) came up and told what they were thinking. So, I felt after a point, there is no point staying here, and trying to still fight it out to play in this setup was quite difficult. I thought, ‘okay, I should move on’ and look out for opportunities,” Vijay told Indian Express.
Vijay is now set to join the Tripura cricket team, a move that marks a significant change from his 13-year-long association with Tamil Nadu. In his new team, he will be playing alongside fellow professionals Hanuma Vihari and Swapnil Singh.
“Whatever I have faced in my career, I think those things will definitely help. Because, the most important thing for me is to share what I have learnt. So, if I am sharing something, then I will be very confident about whatever I say. Definitely, looking forward to sharing my knowledge, share my experience. Looking forward to actually getting to learn from them as well. Because they have a different culture there. Yeah. It’s very important to learn that also. Learning is something that’s never ending. I will keep doing that,” he added.
After dedicating 13 years to Tamil Nadu cricket, Vijay is now looking for a fresh start. He was a key contributor to the team's success, helping them secure titles in the Vijay Hazare, Deodhar Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournaments. However, in the 2024-25 season, his opportunities were limited; he did not play in the first two Ranji Trophy matches and was benched for several games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Throughout his career with Tamil Nadu, which began with his Ranji debut in 2012, Shankar was a crucial presence in the middle order alongside B Indrajith. He amassed 3142 runs in 81 Ranji Trophy innings at an impressive average of 44.25, which included 11 centuries and 16 half-centuries. He also contributed with the ball, taking 43 wickets with his medium-pace bowling. His breakout season came in 2014-15 when he scored 577 runs in 11 Ranji innings, earning him a spot on the India A team. Vijay's achievements eventually led to his inclusion in India's 2019 ODI World Cup squad. Despite his recent lack of match time, he showcased his abilities with an unbeaten 150 against Chandigarh during the 2024-25 Ranji season. He also recently expanded his skillset in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), where he began bowling mystery spin, including carrom balls and wrong-ones, alongside Varun Chakravarthy.