Indian cricket has seen many young players emerge, but few have made as big a start and left as lasting an impression as Piyush Pramod Chawla. A leg-spin sensation who caught everyone’s attention as a teenager, Chawla’s career has been a story of talent, determination and innovation. From bowling out Tendulkar at the age of 16 to becoming a player in the IPL, Chawla has enjoyed a very eventful cricketing journey in Indian cricket.
In this detailed blog, we explore Piyush Chawla’s stats, debut details, age, career highlights, jersey number, IPL journey and much more.
Born on December 24, 1988 in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, Piyush Chawla showed his cricketing prowess at a very young age. Chawla started making headlines from the moment he stepped onto the field as a youngster.
At just 15 years old, he represented India Under-19 and Uttar Pradesh Under-22. He then established himself as a promising leg-spinner with his sharp googlies and deception.
His breakthrough moment came when he bowled Sachin Tendulkar. The ball looked like a very secret googly before making his first-class debut in a Challenger Series match. This rare feat made cricket fans and selectors take serious notice of the young spinner from Aligarh.
Chawla made his first-class debut for Uttar Pradesh at the age of 17. In his debut season, he took 35 wickets and scored 224 runs, playing a vital role in UP winning its first Ranji Trophy title. His performances marked him as one of the most talented leg-spinners on the domestic circuit in India.
Over the years, he has represented several domestic teams like UP, Gujarat and Central Zone along with a stint with Air India.
His domestic record is a testament to his consistency in first-class cricket with over 400 wickets. He has also produced numerous match-winning performances that underline his longevity and experience.
Piyush Chawla made his Test debut at the age of 17, becoming one of the youngest Test cricketers for India. He played a match against England in Mohali where he impressed many with his maturity and control. Although the competition for the spinner’s spot was fierce, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh were at their peak.
Despite his limited Test appearances (3 matches), he is one of the few Indian cricketers to have made his debut before turning 18.
Chawla had an impressive start to his ODI career, taking 3 wickets on debut. His variations, particularly his googly and fast bowling, often troubled batsmen. During India’s tour of Ireland and England in 2007, he took 14 wickets, earning praise for troubling top batsmen like Kevin Pietersen.
He was later part of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup squad, where India emerged as champions.
Chawla’s T20I career has been short but notable. His leg-spin variations were suitable for the shorter format. But India’s spin department faced stiff competition from the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha.
Piyush Chawla is known for his tight control, quick arm action and ability to deceive batsmen with subtle variations. His key strengths include:
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a major part of Piyush Chawla’s career. Over the years, he has represented several franchises and delivered match-winning performances.
Chawla was one of the main spinners for Kings XI Punjab in the inaugural season of the IPL. He played a vital role in many victories. But his accurate bowling and lower-order hitting stood out in the 2008 season.
He was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹4.25 crore in 2014. Chawla played a key role in KKR’s 2014 IPL title-winning campaign, often taking wickets in difficult situations. His partnership with Sunil Narine was one of the most effective spin pairings in the league.
In the 2020 season, Chawla was picked up by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for ₹6.75 crore, making him one of the most expensive Indian spinners at that auction. Although his tenure was short, his experience added depth to CSK’s bowling unit.
Currently, Piyush Chawla plays for Mumbai Indians, who bought him for ₹50 lakh in the 2023 IPL auction. His economy under pressure, experience and calm nature have once again made him a fan favourite.
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Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 3 | 6 | 492 | 270 | 7 | 4/69 | 4/133 | 38.57 | 3.29 | 70.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
ODIs | 25 | 25 | 1312 | 1117 | 32 | 4/23 | 4/23 | 34.90 | 5.10 | 41.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
T20Is | 7 | 7 | 138 | 151 | 4 | 2/13 | 2/13 | 37.75 | 6.56 | 34.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
First-Class (FC) | 137 | 235 | 26686 | 14641 | 446 | 6/46 | 11/170 | 32.82 | 3.29 | 59.8 | 22 | 23 | 3 |
List A | 164 | 160 | 8328 | 6845 | 254 | 6/46 | 6/46 | 26.94 | 4.93 | 32.7 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
T20s | 297 | 296 | 6210 | 7800 | 319 | 4/12 | 4/12 | 24.45 | 7.53 | 19.4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2.00 | 23 | 26.08 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
ODIs | 25 | 12 | 5 | 38 | 13* | 5.42 | 58 | 65.51 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
T20Is | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
First-Class (FC) | 137 | 193 | 16 | 5486 | 156 | 30.99 | 7819 | 70.16 | 6 | 36 | 652 | 128 | 59 | 0 |
List A | 164 | 119 | 25 | 1950 | 93 | 20.74 | 2159 | 90.31 | 0 | 9 | 131 | 65 | 46 | 0 |
T20s | 297 | 162 | 56 | 1565 | 45* | 14.76 | 1268 | 123.42 | 0 | 0 | 135 | 59 | 73 | 0 |
In most of his IPL and domestic appearances, Piyush Chawla wears jersey number 11. This number is now associated with his calm nature and consistent performances on the field.
Piyush Chawla’s net worth is around ₹35-40 crore. It comes mainly from domestic cricket contracts, IPL salary and endorsements.
His IPL 2023 price tag with Mumbai Indians was ₹50 lakh. This proves that even after years in the game, his experience and form keep him relevant in modern cricket.
A talented teenager who was a seasoned IPL player, Piyush Chawla’s journey reflects a strong determination and passion for the game. While many spinners have come and gone, Chawla’s ability to adapt to different formats has kept him in the cricketing limelight for almost two decades.
Whether in the blue jersey of India or the gold and blue of Mumbai Indians, he continues to spin magic with his versatility and experience. His story reminds fans that talent, when combined with dedication, can create a lasting legacy.