Shikhar Dhawan has officially announced his retirement from both international and domestic cricket, effective immediately. In an emotional message shared via social media, the prolific left-handed batsman brought an end to a remarkable career that spanned over 13 years. During this time, Dhawan represented India in 34 Tests, 167 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 68 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), amassing impressive totals of 2315, 6793, and 1579 runs, respectively, in the three formats.
“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 expressed in his retirement video. “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 cricket veteran last donned the Indian jersey in an ODI against Bangladesh at Chattogram in December 2022, and his final T20I appearance was in July 2021 against Sri Lanka. Notably, Dhawan had not played a Test match for India since 2018. His last competitive cricket outing was for the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where an untimely injury cut his season short.
In his farewell message, Dhawan extended heartfelt thanks to his family, fans, childhood coaches, and the various Indian and IPL teams that stood by him throughout his illustrious career.
Dhawan first caught the public’s eye in the 2004 Under-19 World Cup, where he showcased his extraordinary talent by scoring three centuries and accumulating a total of 505 runs. Playing alongside stalwarts like Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, he became a key figure in a formidable Delhi batting lineup. Known for his flourishing offside play, particularly his elegant cover drives and cuts, Dhawan made his ODI debut for India in 2010 against Australia, though he was dismissed without scoring.
His Test debut in March 2013, however, was nothing short of sensational. Playing against Australia at Mohali, Dhawan scored the fastest century on Test debut, reaching the milestone in just 85 balls.
. This marked the beginning of a memorable year, as 2013 saw him become a mainstay in the Indian lineup. His partnership with fellow opener Rohit Sharma was instrumental in India’s triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy held in England. Dhawan scored 363 runs, including two centuries, to help secure victory for India.
One of Dhawan’s most iconic innings came in the 2015 World Cup when he hammered 137 runs against South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). His fearless batting against top bowlers such as Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell, and Vernon Philander earned him the moniker ‘man for the ICC events’. Continuing his form, he started the 2019 ICC World Cup with a century against Australia, but a hairline fracture on his thumb abruptly ended his tournament.
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Dhawan had a stellar career, scoring 6,769 runs across 222 matches. He was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team that clinched the championship in 2016, forming a formidable opening pairing with David Warner. However, as the 2020s rolled in, his international appearances became sporadic.
Dhawan also had stints as the captain of India in 15 matches (12 ODIs and 3 T20Is), and led 33 matches overall for two IPL franchises—the Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. His captaincy record with India stood at eight wins, five losses, and two no-results, leading India to ODI series victories against Sri Lanka in 2021, and West Indies and South Africa in 2022. In franchise cricket, though, he found the burden of captaincy challenging, ending with a win-loss record of 13 wins to 20 defeats.
As Dhawan steps away from professional cricket, he leaves behind a legacy marked by character and extraordinary talent. The cricketing world bids farewell to a player whose contributions on the field will long be remembered. His name will forever be etched in the annals of Indian cricket as one of the finest openers the country has seen.