Piyush Chawla, the former India leg-spinner, has officially retired from professional cricket after a career spanning over two decades. At the age of 36, Chawla leaves behind an impressive record, having represented India in three Test matches, 25 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and seven Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). His last outing for the national side was at the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2012.
Chawla’s final domestic appearance was during the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He had hoped to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2025 but remained unsold at the mega auction last November. Instead, he contributed to ESPNcricinfo’s coverage of the tournament.
Over his IPL career, Chawla played in 192 matches across four different franchises—Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and Mumbai Indians—and claimed 192 wickets. A standout moment came in the 2014 season when he scored the winning runs for Kolkata Knight Riders, securing their second title in three years. He last appeared in the IPL in 2024 with Mumbai Indians, finishing as the league’s fourth-highest wicket-taker.
Chawla first grabbed attention at 16 when he famously bowled Sachin Tendulkar with a googly in the 2005 Challenger Trophy. A year later, he debuted in Test cricket against England in Mohali shortly after playing in India’s Under-19 World Cup squad alongside talents like Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Between 2007 and 2011, Chawla’s career saw significant highs. He featured in the squads that won the 2007 T20 World Cup, the tri-series in Australia in 2008, and the 2011 ODI World Cup. Domestically, he made notable contributions for Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, amassing 446 first-class wickets over 137 matches.
Reflecting on his career in a heartfelt Instagram post, Chawla expressed gratitude: “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.”
Though stepping away, Chawla looks forward to future challenges, stating, “Though I step away from the crease, cricket will always live with me. I now look forward to embarking on a new journey, carrying the lessons and spirit of this beautiful game.”
