Piyush Chawla Announces Retirement from All Formats of Cricket

Piyush Chawla Bids Farewell to Cricket

New Delhi, June 6 - Former Indian cricketer Piyush Chawla has officially declared his retirement from all forms of cricket. He shared this news on his Instagram account.

In his heartfelt message, he stated, "Closing this chapter with Gratitude!! Retiring from all formats of the game, thank you everyone for your support throughout this beautiful journey."

Chawla made a significant mark early in his career, representing India at the Under-19 level and playing for Uttar Pradesh U-22 at just 15 years old. In his debut first-class season, he took 35 wickets and scored 224 runs, leading Uttar Pradesh to their first Ranji Trophy victory.

During India's 2007 tour of Ireland and England, he claimed 14 wickets, often troubling batsman Kevin Pietersen with his googlies and straight deliveries. He made his ODI debut in Bangladesh the same year, where he took three wickets.

After Anil Kumble's retirement from Test cricket, Chawla found it challenging to secure a spot in the Indian Test team, as Amit Mishra, a more conventional leg-spinner, took his place.

His impressive performance in the inaugural IPL kept him in contention for the ODI squad, but after a disappointing Asia Cup in Pakistan in 2008, he was sent back to domestic cricket to refine his skills.

Chawla made a surprising return to the national team when he was selected for the T20 World Cup in 2010, and he also participated in the 2011 World Cup.

Throughout his career, he played 35 matches for India across all formats, taking 43 wickets with an average of 35.76 and an economy rate of 4.75.

In the Indian Premier League, he had a successful stint with several teams, including Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and Mumbai Indians, amassing 192 wickets in 192 matches at an average of 26.60 and an economy rate below eight.