In a significant development for the world of cricket, Shikhar Dhawan has officially announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket with immediate effect. The left-handed batsman, who has been an integral part of the Indian cricket team for over 13 years, took to social media to share the news with his fans and followers. Dhawan’s illustrious career has seen him play 34 Tests, 167 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and 68 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), amassing 2315, 6793, and 1579 runs in each format respectively.
“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 said in his heartfelt 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.”
At the age of 38, Dhawan played his last game for India in an ODI against Bangladesh at Chattogram in December 2022. His final appearance in a T20I was during the series against Sri Lanka in July 2021. Dhawan had not appeared in a Test match for India since 2018. His last competitive outing was for the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in April, where an untimely injury ended his season prematurely.
During his announcement, Dhawan expressed deep gratitude: “I want to thank my family and fans who have shown immense love and support throughout my career. I am also grateful to my childhood coaches and the various Indian and IPL teams I have been part of during my journey.”
Dhawan first caught the nation’s attention during the 2004 Under-19 World Cup, where he scored three centuries and accumulated 505 runs. He shared the dressing room with stalwarts like Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, contributing to a formidable Delhi batting lineup. Known for his prowess on the offside, Dhawan gradually made a name for himself with elegant cover drives and sharp cuts.
He made his ODI debut for India in 2010 against Australia, although it was a less-than-ideal start with him getting out for a duck.
. However, in March 2013, he turned things around dramatically with a memorable Test debut against Australia at Mohali, where he shattered records by scoring the fastest century on debut in just 85 balls. This remarkable performance was the beginning of a notable year for Dhawan as he formed a prolific opening partnership with Rohit Sharma, playing a crucial role in India’s triumph at the Champions Trophy in England by scoring 363 runs, including two hundreds.
One of Dhawan’s standout performances was his innings of 137 against South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the 2015 Cricket World Cup. His aggressive batting dismantled some of the world’s best bowlers, including Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn. Dhawan earned a reputation as a reliable performer in ICC events. In the 2019 World Cup, he began with a century against Australia but was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a hairline fracture on his thumb.
In his extensive IPL career, Dhawan played 222 games, scoring 6,769 runs. He was a key figure in the Sunrisers Hyderabad’s victorious 2016 campaign, forming a pivotal opening partnership with David Warner. In the later years of his career, Dhawan’s international appearances became less frequent.
Dhawan also captained the Indian team in 15 matches (12 ODIs and 3 T20Is) and captained 33 games across his stints with IPL franchises Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. His leadership saw a mixed bag of results with India boasting a positive win-loss record of 8-5 (with 2 no-results), including series wins against Sri Lanka (2021), West Indies, and South Africa (2022). However, at the franchise level, his captaincy had limited success with 13 wins against 20 defeats.
As Dhawan steps away from the cricketing stage, his retirement marks the end of an era. His journey reflects the story of a cricketer who not only entertained fans with his aggressive batting and exceptional fielding but also led his teams with determination and grace. The cricketing world will remember Shikhar Dhawan not just for his runs and centuries, but for his unwavering spirit and contributions to the game.