Shikhar Dhawan, the stalwart Indian cricketer, has officially declared his retirement from both international and domestic cricket, effective immediately. The seasoned left-handed batsman made the announcement via social media, bringing an end to a remarkable career that spanned over 13 years and saw him feature in 34 Tests, 167 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 68 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for India. In these formats, Dhawan amassed 2315, 6793, and 1579 runs respectively.
In his retirement video, Dhawan articulated his decision with a reflective tone. “It’s important to turn the page to move forward in a story, and in life. That’s why I am announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket,” he stated. “I’ve told myself to not feel sad that you won’t play for India again, but feel happy that you played for the country.”
The 38-year-old played his last game for India in an ODI against Bangladesh at Chattogram in December 2022, and his final T20I appearance was in Sri Lanka in July 2021. Dhawan had not represented India in a Test match since 2018. His final competitive game came in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, where he played for the Punjab Kings against Sunrisers Hyderabad. An unfortunate injury during this game brought an early end to his season.
Expressing gratitude, Dhawan thanked his family, fans, childhood coaches, and the various teams, both Indian and IPL, that he represented throughout his career. He acknowledged the unwavering love and support he received, which played a crucial role in his cricketing journey.
Dhawan first burst onto the cricketing scene in the 2004 U-19 World Cup, where he scored three centuries and accumulated 505 runs, grabbing attention with his prodigious talent. Adding to the famed Delhi batting lineup that featured the likes of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, Dhawan solidified his place with a technique characterized by elegant offside game, full of cover drives and cuts. He made his ODI debut against Australia in 2010, although it was marred by a first-ball duck.
It wasn’t until three years later, during his Test debut in March 2013 against Australia at Mohali, that Dhawan truly announced his arrival on the international stage.
. In a dazzling display, he scored the fastest Test century on debut, reaching the hundred-run mark in just 85 deliveries. The year 2013 saw him form a formidable opening partnership with Rohit Sharma, and Dhawan played a pivotal role in India’s victorious Champions Trophy campaign in England, scoring 363 runs with two centuries.
One of Dhawan’s most memorable innings was his 137 against South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the 2015 Cricket World Cup. Facing a world-class bowling attack that included Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell, and Vernon Philander, Dhawan’s aggression was lauded globally. His knack for performing in ICC events earned him the title of ‘Tournament Man’. In the 2019 World Cup, Dhawan commenced his campaign with a century against Australia, but his tournament was cut short due to a hairline fracture on his thumb.
In the Indian Premier League, Dhawan had an illustrious career, amassing 6,769 runs in 222 matches. He won the IPL championship with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, forming a lethal opening pair with David Warner. However, as the decade progressed, his appearances for India became less frequent.
Additionally, Dhawan took up the captaincy mantle on various occasions. He led India in 15 matches (12 ODIs and 3 T20Is) and captained IPL franchises Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad in a total of 33 games across the IPL and the Champions League T20. Dhawan concluded with an impressive win-loss record of 8-5 (with two no-results) when captaining India. Under his leadership, India secured ODI series victories against Sri Lanka in 2021, as well as West Indies and South Africa in 2022. Nevertheless, his stint as a franchise captain was less successful, finishing with a record of 13 wins and 20 losses.
Shikhar Dhawan’s legacy in Indian cricket is one of flamboyance, resilience, and consistency. His retirement marks the end of an era, and the cricketing community will undoubtedly miss his contributions. In his farewell, Dhawan leaves behind a trail of memories, inspirational performances, and a testament to what dedicated hard work and passion can achieve.