On Saturday, Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement from both international and domestic cricket. A veteran of 167 ODIs, 34 Tests, and 68 T20Is, Dhawan exits the sport as one of India’s most formidable white-ball openers.
Shikhar Dhawan Announces Retirement from International Cricket
Shikhar Dhawan, one of India’s finest white-ball openers, has announced his retirement from international cricket. At 38, Dhawan revealed that while he is stepping away from representing India, he is considering continuing in league cricket, particularly the IPL. Having last played for India in December 2022 against Bangladesh, Dhawan finishes his international career with 10,867 runs from 269 appearances, including 24 centuries and 44 fifties. Over the past decade, he has been a crucial figure in Indian batting.
“It’s not like it is a tough decision for me. I am not even emotional. I don’t want to cry or something. But mostly it’s gratitude and love. I have spent most of my life playing cricket and I feel I’ve reached a stage where I want to rest now – from international and domestic,” Dhawan told Hindustan Times in an exclusive interview.
Shikhar Dhawan Reflects on Test Debut and ODI Success
“My Test debut is my personal favorite. I came into the team and made that record. I scored 187. I always used to dream of playing for India and making world records. I wasn’t even aware of the world record. I was just happy to cement my place in the Test team,” said Dhawan.
Dhawan’s explosive start in Tests paved the way for his ODI recall. In the 2013 Champions Trophy, MS Dhoni introduced a new opening pair of Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. Dhawan scored consecutive centuries against South Africa and the West Indies. He ended the tournament with 363 runs, winning the Player of the Tournament award as India claimed the title for the first time.
Shikhar Dhawan's ICC Success and Final Years
Dhawan established himself as India’s key player in ICC tournaments. He became India’s highest scorer at the 2015 World Cup with 412 runs from eight matches at an average of 51.5, highlighted by a memorable 137 against South Africa. He continued his stellar performance with 338 runs in the 2017 Champions Trophy. Alongside Rohit Sharma, Dhawan formed India’s second-most successful ODI opening pair, amassing 5148 runs in 115 innings with 18 centuries, making them the fourth-highest opening duo of all time.
Despite his success, Dhawan’s career faced challenges. At the 2019 World Cup, a fractured thumb ended his tournament prematurely and proved to be his last ICC event. His 117 against Australia was a standout performance, though it was his final century for India. Although he scored near-century runs in later matches, his declining strike rate, particularly in T20Is, led to his exclusion from the national team. Dhawan’s impressive IPL performances in 2020 and 2021 with 618 and 587 runs, respectively, did not secure his return to India’s T20I squad.
Conclusion
Shikhar Dhawan’s career has been marked by significant achievements and memorable performances, particularly in ICC tournaments where he consistently demonstrated his prowess as one of India’s top batsmen. His exceptional innings in the 2015 World Cup and the 2017 Champions Trophy, along with his successful partnership with Rohit Sharma, established him as a cornerstone of India’s white-ball cricket. Dhawan’s ability to deliver crucial knocks in high-pressure games highlighted his role as a match-winner and a key player in India’s cricketing history.
Despite his remarkable contributions, Dhawan’s international career faced challenges towards the end, primarily due to declining form and changing team dynamics. His final years saw him struggling with injuries and a diminishing strike rate, leading to his exclusion from the T20I setup. Even though his IPL performances remained strong, they were not sufficient to secure his return to the national team. Dhawan’s legacy is defined by his impactful performances and his role in shaping India’s success in white-ball cricket, leaving behind a distinguished career filled with both highs and challenges.