Delhi, 6 June (H.S.): Piyush Chawla, one of India’s distinguished spinners, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket via an Instagram statement on Friday. He expressed gratitude for the support he received throughout his career, stating, “Closing this chapter with Gratitude !! Retiring from all formats of the game.” After over two decades in cricket, Chawla emphasized the significance of his experiences, including representing India in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup. He described these moments as a blessing, promising that the memories will always remain in his heart.
In his farewell message, Chawla also thanked the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises that had faith in him, referencing teams such as Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and Mumbai Indians. He acknowledged the IPL as a special segment of his career, highlighting the joy he found in playing during the league.
Chawla gave a heartfelt nod to his late father, whose unwavering belief in him shaped his journey, stating that without him, this path would not have been possible. He noted that his retirement day is emotionally significant but affirmed that while he is stepping away from the field, the spirit of cricket will always remain alive within him. Looking ahead, he expressed excitement for a new chapter in his life, intent on carrying forward the lessons and essence of the game.
Piyush Chawla debuted in competitive cricket at 15, representing India U19 and Uttar Pradesh U22 before making his first-class debut at 17. Throughout his career from 2006 to 2012, Chawla played three Test matches, taking 7 wickets, with a best performance of 4/69. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), he participated in 25 matches from 2007 to 2011, claiming 32 wickets, with his best figures being 4/23 and an economy rate of 5.10. In the T20 International format, he appeared in 7 matches between 2010 and 2012, taking 4 wickets, with his last appearance for India in a T20I against England in December 2012 in Mumbai.
Chawla’s most notable achievements came in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he played from 2008 to 2024 for various franchises, including Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and Mumbai Indians. Over the course of 192 IPL matches, he took 192 wickets, ranking him as the third-highest wicket-taker in IPL history, with a best performance of 4/17. Additionally, in his first-class career spanning 137 matches, Chawla secured 446 wickets.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
