Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla has officially announced his retirement from all formats of cricket. The veteran bowler shared this news on Friday, June 6, through a heartfelt post on social media. Chawla was a member of India’s victorious squads in both the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup, both won under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.
Piyush Chawla Shares Emotional Post
36-year-old Piyush Chawla wrote on Instagram:
“With gratitude, I bid farewell to this chapter. I am retiring from all formats of cricket. Thank you to everyone who stood by me during this beautiful journey.” Along with this, he also shared a long emotional note.
In his post, Chawla wrote: “After spending more than two decades on the field, the time has come to say goodbye to this beautiful game. From representing India to being part of the teams that won the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup, every moment of this journey has been a blessing. These memories will always remain close to my heart.”
He went on to thank the IPL franchises he played for: “I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the IPL franchises that believed in me—Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and Mumbai Indians. The IPL has been a very special chapter in my career, and I have cherished every moment of playing in it.”
Chawla also acknowledged his coaches: “I am especially grateful to my coaches—K.K. Gautam and the late Pankaj Saraswat—who played a vital role in shaping and grooming me as a cricketer.”
He wrote a special note for his family: “To my family, who have always been my strongest pillar of support—your unwavering presence helped me through all the highs and lows. Especially my late father, whose belief in me paved the way for this journey. Without him, none of this would have been possible.”
Chawla also thanked the cricket associations that supported him: “I would also like to thank the BCCI, UPCA (Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association), and GCA (Gujarat Cricket Association) for giving me the platform and opportunities to grow as a cricketer.”
Concluding his post, he wrote: “Today is an emotional day as I officially announce my retirement from international and domestic cricket. While I may no longer step onto the pitch, cricket will always live within me. I am excited to move towards a new journey, carrying with me the soul and lessons of this beautiful game.”
Piyush Chawla’s International and IPL Career
Piyush Chawla last played for India in December 2012. The right-arm leg-spinner represented India in 3 Test matches, 25 ODIs, and 7 T20Is. He picked up 7 wickets in Tests, 32 in ODIs, and 4 in T20Is.
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Chawla played 192 matches and took 192 wickets at an average of 26.60. In IPL 2024, he was part of the Mumbai Indians squad. However, he went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction. Over the years, he also represented Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Punjab Kings (PBKS). In IPL 2025, he was seen in the commentary box, beginning a new chapter in his cricketing journey.