Indian Cricketer Piyush Chawla has announced retirement across formats on Friday, June 06. After playing for two decades, the leg spinner said that the time is right to step away from cricket. The 37-year-old was last seen playing Indian Premier League (IPL) for Mumbai Indians (MI). The veteran will always be fondly remembered for his contributions in India's two World Cup wins in 2007 T20, and ODI WC in 2011.
Chawla gave an emotional retirement statement, which was full of gratitude, as he thanked his family, friends, BCCI, Indian Cricket Team, & IPL franchises. The leg spinner also credited his late father for all the scarifies he made, and being a perfect role model for him. The veteran also stated that it was the solid foundation in childhood, which helped him achieve lot of things during his cricketing career.
Advertisement
Chawla made his intentional debut as a teenager, and ended up playing three Tests, 25 ODIs, and seven T20Is for India, with his best spell being 4/23 in ODIs. While the leg spinner did not feature much for India across formats, his impact for state team Uttar Pradesh and in IPL was huge.
Also read: RCB announces financial support of INR 10 lakh each of the 11 families of the deceased
From representing India at the highest level to being part of the victorious 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup squads, every moment in this incredible journey has been nothing short of a blessing. These memories will forever remain etched in my heart.
A heartfelt thank you to the IPL franchises who placed their trust in me – Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and Mumbai Indians. The Indian Premier League has been a truly special chapter in my career, and I have cherished every moment playing in it.
I owe my deepest gratitude to my coaches – Shri K.K. Gautam and Late Shri Pankaj Saraswat – for nurturing and shaping me into the cricketer I became.
To my family, my eternal pillar of strength: your unwavering support has been my foundation through all the highs and lows. A special mention to my late father, whose belief in me lit the path I walked. Without him, this journey would never have been possible.
I also thank the BCCI, the UPCA (Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association), and the GCA (Gujarat Cricket Association) for providing me with the platform and opportunities to evolve and express myself as a cricketer.
Also read: Cheteshwar Pujara lauds Virat Kohli's ability to always evolve after RCB lift maiden IPL trophy
Piyush Chawla - A domestic stalwart & role model to plenty
Chawla ended his first-class career with 446 wickets and 319 T20 wickets, he remained a constant member in the UP side, and a regular member in various IPL teams like KKR, PBKS, MI and CSK. The leg spinner played a pivotal hand in KKR winning two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014 editions. He also retires from the T20 League as one of leading wicket-taking spinners, behind only Yuzvendra Chahal. Chawla is currently third on the IPL leading wicket-taker list, with 192 wickets from 191 games.
Also read: Jasprit Bumrah Will Not Play All Five Tests in England, Confirms India Head Coach Gautam Gambhir
