Piyush Chawla went unsold at IPL 2025 mega auction. At 36, he’s now retired from all forms of cricket.
Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla has announced his retirement on Friday, June 6. The former Indian international, who represented the country 38 times, dropped the news on his social media account, calling an end to a decent career that saw him win many accolades and trophies.
Few individuals have won both an ICC World Cup trophy and an IPL trophy as well. Well, Chawla is one of them. In fact, he was part of India’s T20 World Cup 2007 triumph and also played three games at the ODI World Cup 2011 which India managed to lift by beating Sri Lanka in the final.
Piyush Chawla’s retirement note
Piyush Chawla debuted for India in 2006, playing 3 Tests, 25 ODIs, and 7 T20Is until 2012, claiming 7 Test wickets, 32 ODI wickets, and 4 T20I wickets. He also featured in the IPL for four teams: Punjab Kings (PBKS), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Mumbai Indians (MI).
Chawla’s career-defining moment came when he hit the winning shot at the IPL 2014 final against his former team, PBKS, then known as the Kings XI Punjab. He made a vital 5-ball 13* that saw KKR lift their second title. Interestingly, Chawla was one of the legends in the IPL, having taken 192 wickets at an average of 26.60, which is better than the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and R Ashwin.
While taking to his Instagram, Piyush Chawla wrote a heartfelt retirement note:
“After more than two decades on the field, the time has come to bid adieu to the beautiful game. 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.”
“Today is a deeply emotional day for me as I officially announce my retirement from all forms of international and domestic cricket. Though I step away from the crease, cricket will always live within me. I now look forward to embarking on a new journey, carrying with me the spirit and lessons of this beautiful game.”
At the age of 36 years and 164 days old, Chawla has called time on his career. Fascinatingly, the likes of Virat Kohli (36 years and 213 days) and Rohit Sharma (38 years and 37 days old) are both older than Chawla. Let’s leave aside a certain MS Dhoni, who’s still managing to lead his IPL side, CSK, with him turning 44 next month.
Piyush Chawla career stats – Bowling
| Format | Inns | Wkts | BBM | Ave | Econ | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 6 | 7 | 4/133 | 38.57 | 3.29 | 0 |
| ODIs | 25 | 32 | 4/23 | 34.90 | 5.10 | 0 |
| T20Is | 7 | 4 | 2/13 | 37.75 | 6.56 | 0 |
| FC | 235 | 446 | 11/170 | 32.82 | 3.29 | 23 |
| List A | 160 | 254 | 6/46 | 26.94 | 4.93 | 3 |
| T20s | 296 | 319 | 4/12 | 24.45 | 7.53 | 0 |
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