Tracing the Psychological Architecture of Longevity in Elite Cricket: An Integrated Mixed-Methods PLS-SEM Case Study on the Sporting, Motivational, and Resilience Dimensions of Piyush Chawla

Abstract

This empirical case study rigorously examines the career trajectory of Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla through an integrated lens of sporting performance metrics, psychological profiling, and motivational resilience dynamics. The study utilized a convergent mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of structured expert ratings (N=48) with qualitative insights derived from coach and analyst interviews (n=14). Data were analyzed using advanced statistical techniques, including Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) for mediation and moderation analysis, alongside reflexive thematic analysis. Quantitative results revealed that autonomous motivation emerged as the strongest direct predictor of perceived performance consistency (β=.374,p<.001), emphasizing the role of intrinsic drive in sustained achievement. Resilience played a significant mediating role between autonomous motivation and consistency, confirming an essential psychological pathway (indirect β=.152,p=.013). Other significant predictors included personality traits (Big Five composite), leadership qualities, and self-confidence, all exhibiting positive associations with sustained performance. The comprehensive structural model demonstrated substantial predictive power, explaining 58.7% of the variance in performance consistency (R2=.587). Qualitative data triangulated these findings, yielding eight core themes, including intrinsic passion for the craft, adaptive coping under pressure, and a growth mindset toward failure. This study advances cricket psychology scholarship by providing the first comprehensive psychometric case study of an Indian spinner, integrating Self-Determination Theory and Achievement Goal Theory within the demanding Indian Premier League (IPL) context.