"Don't worry, you bowled well" - Piyush Chawla on how his son motivated him after an expensive spell in UP T20 League 2024
Veteran Indian spinner Piyush Chawla is plying his trade for the Noida Super Kings in the ongoing second edition of the Uttar Pradesh (UP) T20 League. He recently revealed that after a poor outing, he was encouraged by his seven-year-old son. The seasoned campaigner struggled to get going in the team's opening encounter against Gorakhpur Lions, registering figures of 4-0-54-2.
Chawla mentioned that he was speaking to his son Advik about his costly spell when the latter told the leg-spinner that he had bowled well. Speaking on journalist Shubhankar Mishra's podcast, Chawla said (via YouTube):
"I got hit for 54 runs in the first match of the UPL. I have never conceded these many runs in a game. I was discussing that with my son, Advik. He said, 'Don't worry, you bowled well'. Imagine a seven-year-old kid saying this. When I was on my way to the next game, he called me and said, 'Just show everyone who's the real boss.'" (9:47)
Piyush Chawla made his Team India debut in 2006 in a Test match against England. He has featured in three Tests, 25 ODIs and seven T20Is. The 35-year-old was also part of India's World Cup-winning squads in 2007 (T20) and 2011 (ODI).
"I compete with them" - Piyush Chawla on playing with up-and-coming cricketers
In the aforementioned video, Piyush Chawla spoke about sharing the dressing room with youngsters during the Indian Premier League (IPL) and UP T20 League. He said he tries competing with them on the field.
Recalling his conversation with Mumbai Indians (MI) teammates Tilak Varma and Gerald Coetzee, Chawla said (from 6:12):
"I asked Tilak how old is he. He replied that he was 22 years old. I said I have been playing for 24 years. The same thing happened with Gerald Coetzee, who said he was 23. There are many players who are 20-22 but I enjoy it because I compete with them, fitness-wise. In terms of skill, those guys are still learning. Many things have changed in today's generation. So, I learn a few things from them, and they learn some things from me. But I compete with them. If someone has taken a good catch, I feel I also have to take a good catch now."
Piyush Chawla was one of the top performers for MI in IPL 2024. He was the second-highest wicket-taker in the edition, bagging 13 wickets from 11 outings at an economy rate of 8.91.