Shikhar Dhawan has announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket with immediate effect. The left-handed batsman made the heartfelt declaration through social media, bringing down the curtains on a storied career that spanned over 13 years. Dhawan leaves behind an impressive legacy, having represented India in 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is, amassing 2315, 6793, and 1579 runs respectively in these formats.
In his emotional farewell video, Dhawan reflected on the necessity of moving forward both in life and in his cricketing journey. “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,” Dhawan announced. Emphasizing a sense of joy over sorrow, he added, “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.”
Dhawan, now 38, last represented India in an ODI against Bangladesh at Chattogram in December 2022. His final T20I on the international stage was against Sri Lanka in July 2021, and he hadn’t donned the whites for a Test match since 2018. His last competitive outing was with the Punjab Kings in the IPL 2024, a match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in April, a season cut short by an untimely injury.
Expressing gratitude, Dhawan thanked his family, fans, childhood coaches, and all the teams he played for in both international and IPL settings. His journey to fame began in the 2004 U-19 World Cup, where he scored three centuries and piled up 505 runs, establishing himself as a batting prodigy. Alongside Indian stalwarts Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, Dhawan was part of a formidable Delhi batting line-up. Known for his elegant offside play marked by exquisite cover drives and cuts, Dhawan made his ODI debut for India in 2010 against Australia, albeit an inauspicious beginning being dismissed for a duck.
.
Three years later, in March 2013, he made his Test debut in a memorable fashion against Australia at Mohali, where he smashed the fastest Test century on debut in only 85 deliveries. This performance was a precursor to a fruitful year, as Dhawan established a strong opening partnership with Rohit Sharma. This pairing became crucial as India clinched the Champions Trophy in England in 2013, where Dhawan scored 363 runs and struck two hundreds.
Among Dhawan’s most memorable innings was his 137-run knock against South Africa at the MCG during the 2015 Cricket World Cup. Facing an intimidating South African pace attack featuring the likes of Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell, and Vernon Philander, Dhawan’s performance became a cherished cricketing memory. Internationally, Dhawan earned the reputation of being a reliable performer in ICC events, starting strong in the 2019 ICC World Cup with a century against Australia, only to see his tournament cut short by a thumb fracture.
In his vibrant IPL career comprising 222 games, Dhawan accumulated 6,769 runs and clinched a championship with the Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, forming a crucial partnership with David Warner. However, as the decade neared its end, international appearances for Dhawan became sporadic.
Dhawan also held leadership roles, captaining India in 15 matches (12 ODIs and 3 T20Is) and leading two IPL franchises – Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad – across the IPL and the Champions League T20. Under his leadership, India recorded a win-loss tally of 8-5 (including 2 no-results), with notable ODI series wins against Sri Lanka in 2021, and West Indies and South Africa in 2022. However, his stint as a franchise captain was less successful, with a win-loss record of 13 wins to 20 defeats.
As Dhawan steps away from the game, the cricketing world celebrates a career filled with grace, flair, and significant milestones. His exit marks the end of an era for one of India’s favorite left-handed openers, who brought joy to millions with his distinctive batting style and infectious smile.