14 players from India's iconic 2011 World Cup squad have retired, one giant still stands tall amid a fading golden era

Fourteen years ago, India lifted the ODI World Cup title in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, scripting one of the most emotional moments in the nation’s cricketing history. Now, with Piyush Chawla formally announcing his retirement from all forms of the game, that iconic 15-member squad has all but walked into the sunset. Only one name remains: Virat Kohli. India players after their semi-final win against Pakistan in 2011 World Cup(Getty)

Chawla, who announced his retirement on social media with a note of gratitude, was one of the youngest members of that 2011 squad. Though he played only a supporting role during the tournament, his selection itself had raised eyebrows at the time. MS Dhoni and the team management, however, largely persisted with the services of Harbhajan Singh among spinners, who played in all of India's matches. Yuvraj Singh, meanwhile, played a key role with the ball in the World Cup, picking 15 wickets. Chawla played three matches, registering four dismissals to his name.

Of the 15 who formed that historic team under MS Dhoni’s leadership, legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj, Gautam Gambhir, and Zaheer Khan have long stepped away from the game. Tendulkar and Ashish Nehra retired with farewell matches in their tribute.

Chawla’s career was defined as much by early promise as by the challenge of surviving in a crowded spin ecosystem. Debuting at just 17 in 2006, he impressed with his guile and variety. Though his international opportunities remained limited, 35 appearances across formats, his impact in domestic cricket and the IPL was considerable. He was a consistent wicket-taker with over 190 IPL scalps in the IPL.

What are these 14 players doing now?

MS Dhoni: Dhoni retired from all forms of international cricket in August 2020, more than a year after his last appearance for India at the World Cup in England. Since then, he has been actively appearing for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL – the only tournament he plays.

Sachin Tendulkar: Following the 2011 World Cup high, Tendulkar's form took a dip and he called time on his ODI career in 2012, but not before smashing a historic 100th international century during the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh in the same year. In November 2013, Tendulkar played his final Test for India against West Indies, which also saw him reaching 200 Tests.

Gautam Gambhir: The left-handed opener remained in-and-out of the Indian team for most part of his later career, eventually making his last international appearance in 2014. With the emergence of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma's phenomenal rise as an opener, as well as consistent performances from Murali Vijay in Test cricket, Gambhir couldn't make a return to the squad. He retired in 2018.

Yuvraj Singh: Months after the World Cup win, Yuvraj revealed he was suffering from lung cancer. Naturally, he spent a significant period away from the field before making a return in late 2012. However, Yuvraj's performances weren't as consistent, and even though he made another comeback to Indian team in 2017, Yuvraj couldn't cement his place in the XI. He retired in 2019.

Virender Sehwag: Post-2011, Sehwag’s form began to dip amid rising competition and injuries. He played his last match for India in 2013 and formally announced retirement from all formats in 2015.

Zaheer Khan: The leader of India’s pace attack in 2011, Zaheer continued to play until 2014 but battled persistent injuries. He was never quite the same force and quietly slipped out of contention. Zaheer retired from international cricket in 2015 and has since taken up commentary and mentoring roles.

Harbhajan Singh: The off-spinner remained in the mix briefly but lost ground to R Ashwin and others in the spin department. His last India appearance came in 2016, marking the end of a long international career. Harbhajan retired in 2021 after an extended run in the IPL. He has since taken up stints as a TV pundit.

Suresh Raina: A key middle-order contributor post-2011, Raina stayed relevant in limited-overs cricket for a few more years. Injuries, poor form, and intense competition saw him drop off the radar by 2018. He retired from international cricket in 2020, minutes after MS Dhoni’s announcement.

Ashish Nehra: Known for his comebacks, Nehra revived his T20I career in 2016–17 with strong performances. He chose to retire on a high after a farewell match in Delhi in 2017. Post-retirement, Nehra transitioned into coaching, notably leading Gujarat Titans to an IPL title in 2022. He continues to coach the franchise.

Munaf Patel: The seamer played sporadically after 2011 and wasn’t seen in India colours beyond 2012. He returned to domestic cricket for a while before stepping away quietly. Munaf announced his retirement in 2018, having faded from the spotlight.

Yusuf Pathan: Despite his power-hitting reputation, Yusuf couldn’t cement a long-term place in the Indian team post-2012. His last appearance came in 2012, though he remained active in domestic and T20 franchise cricket. He called time on his career in 2021 and has occasionally played in legends’ leagues.

Ravichandran Ashwin: Ashwin's career truly took off after 2011 as he became India’s premier spinner in Tests. While he eventually fell out of favour in white-ball cricket, his red-ball credentials soared. Ashwin did make returns to Indian white-ball squads for the T20 World Cup in 2022 and the ODI World Cup in 2023, but wasn't a consistent part of the side. He retired from all forms of international cricket in December last year.

Piyush Chawla: After 2011, Chawla couldn’t hold onto his spot and played his final international game in 2012. He found sustained success in the IPL but couldn’t break back into the national setup. Chawla announced his retirement in 2025.

Sreesanth: The pacer’s career derailed after his arrest during the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal. A lengthy ban kept him out of the game, though he remained in the news off the field. Cleared for a return in 2020, Sreesanth eventually retired in 2022 after failing to make a comeback.

Virat Kohli only player remaining

Kohli, who played a vital role in the final with a stabilising knock of 35, is now the last torchbearer of that generation. The batting stalwart, now 36, is only active in ODIs, though, having already announced his retirement from Test cricket last month. Kohli left the T20Is last year after India's World Cup victory in the West Indies.

Over the years, Kohli lifted all of white-ball trophies, clinching the Champions Trophy twice (2013 and 2025) and ending a long wait for a T20 World Cup in 2024.

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