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Piyush Chawla, the seasoned leg-spinner, finds himself savouring an unexpected resurgence in the Indian Premier League, a tournament he graced as a teenage prodigy nearly two decades ago. At 34, he may not possess the youthful agility of his early career, but his craftiness and experience have proven invaluable to the five-time champions, the Mumbai Indians.
Currently, Piyush Chawla IPL rankings indicate him being the fourth in the wickets chart, boasting an impressive tally of 17 scalps. This renaissance is all the more remarkable considering that he remained unsold in the 2022 IPL auction, an experience that could have easily discouraged the most resilient of players.
Nevertheless, Mumbai Indians displayed faith in Piyush Chawla by signing him for his base price of $61,000 for the ongoing campaign. In a recent interview with AFP, Piyush Chawla IPL return had him reflecting, and emphasising that in the previous year when he was absent from the IPL, many might have doubted his ability to make a comeback. However, he underscored his mental preparedness and determination to return to the league.
Piyush Chawla IPL journey has been illustrious, with his name etched third on the all-time leading wicket-takers list, trailing only the retired Lasith Malinga and Yuzvendra Chahal. Piyush Chawla's approach to T20 cricket has always been straightforward.
Right from the beginning, his thought process has been to go for wickets because, in T20, batters are trying to get more runs. According to him, the best way to choke the run rate is to get wickets.
One of the most cherished moments in Chawla's career was when he dismissed the cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar with a deceptive googly back in 2005. A 16-year-old Chawla's spellbinding performance in that match also included the prized scalp of MS Dhoni.
Subsequently, he made his national debut against England, becoming India's second-youngest Test debutant after Tendulkar and dismissing opposition captain Andrew Flintoff.
Now, with Mumbai Indians, where Tendulkar serves as the team mentor, Piyush Chawla continually hones his skills by bowling to some of the finest T20 talents, including Suryakumar Yadav, Tim David, and Cameron Green. He considers these practice sessions against top-notch players as a litmus test of his readiness for the team.
Speaking of his teammates, Piyush Chawla observes that the manner in which Surya manipulates the field places him in a different league altogether. He acknowledges Tim David as a formidable adversary, particularly when he steps lower down the batting order. Piyush Chawla emphasises that when he faces a player of Tim David's calibre, he takes meticulous measures to ensure his readiness for the challenge.
Chawla's international career has been a stop-and-start journey, with only three Test appearances, 25 ODIs, and seven T20 matches to his name. However, his recent resurgence has ignited discussions about a possible return to the Indian national team.
However, Piyush Chawla remains grounded, expressing that he isn't contemplating distant prospects. Instead, he unearths delight in the present-day state of his cricketing journey, proceeding one step at a time.
As Piyush Chawla continues to make a mark within the IPL and defy expectations, his journey serves as a testament to the iconic value of experiential journey and a reminder of achievement in cricket.
FAQs
Who is Piyush Chawla?
Piyush Chawla is a seasoned leg-spinner who has played cricket for India and numerous IPL teams.
How has Piyush Chawla carried out in the contemporary IPL season?
He has played incredibly well, ranking fourth in wickets with 17 scalps.
Which IPL team signed Piyush Chawla after he went unsold in the 2022 IPL auction?
The Mumbai Indians signed him for the contemporary campaign at his base charge of $61,000.
