Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has announced his retirement from all forms of international and domestic cricket with immediate effect. The southpaw took to social media to share the news, bringing to an end an illustrious career that spanned over 13 years. During his career, Dhawan played 34 Tests, 167 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 68 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), amassing scores of 2315, 6793, and 1579 runs respectively across the three formats.
Dhawan’s farewell message was poignant. “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 said 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 veteran played his last match for India in December 2022 during an ODI against Bangladesh at Chattogram, while his last T20I appearance was against Sri Lanka in July 2021. Interestingly, Dhawan had not featured in a Test match for India since 2018. His most recent competitive outing was with the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, where an injury unfortunately cut his season short in April during a game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
In his heartfelt announcement, Dhawan expressed his gratitude towards his family, fans, childhood coaches, and the various Indian and IPL teams he represented. He acknowledged the immense love and support he had received over the years.
Dhawan initially gained prominence during the 2004 U-19 World Cup, where he scored three centuries and accumulated 505 runs. Alongside stalwarts like Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, he was part of a formidable Delhi batting line-up known for its aggressive playing style. Dhawan’s elegant cover drives and precise cuts on the offside quickly became his trademark shots.
Making his ODI debut for India in 2010 against Australia, Dhawan had a forgettable first appearance, getting dismissed for a duck.
. However, redemption came in March 2013 when he was handed his Test cap against Australia at Mohali. This time, the debut was one for the record books as Dhawan smashed the fastest century on Test debut, reaching the milestone in just 85 deliveries. That same year, he forged a formidable opening partnership with Rohit Sharma, playing a key role in India’s triumph at the ICC Champions Trophy in England, scoring 363 runs with two centuries during the tournament.
One of Dhawan’s most memorable innings came during the 2015 Cricket World Cup against South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). His 137-run knock decimated the formidable South African pace attack comprising Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell, and Vernon Philander. This performance solidified his reputation as a go-to player for ICC tournaments. Dhawan commenced the 2019 ICC World Cup with a century against Australia, but his campaign was cut short due to a hairline fracture on his thumb, ruling him out for the remainder of the tournament.
Over his 222-game IPL career, Dhawan gathered 6,769 runs and was a central figure in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s victorious 2016 season alongside David Warner. However, towards the end of the decade, his international appearances started to dwindle.
Beyond his batting exploits, Dhawan also had stints as captain. He led India in 15 matches (12 ODIs and 3 T20Is) and captained in 33 games across two IPL franchises—Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, as well as during the now-defunct Champions League T20. His captaincy record for India stood at 8 wins, 5 losses, and 2 no-results. Under his leadership, India clinched ODI series victories against Sri Lanka in 2021 and against both West Indies and South Africa in 2022. However, success as a franchise captain eluded him, with a win-loss record of 13 wins to 20 defeats.
As Dhawan transitions away from the cricket field, the sport in India bids adieu to a vibrant and elegant batsman whose legacy will be remembered for his stylish stroke-play and crucial contributions in major tournaments. The end of an era often signals new beginnings, and Dhawan’s next chapter, whatever it might be, will be followed with keen interest by his fans around the globe.