Shikhar Dhawan announces retirement from international and domestic cricket

Digital Desk: Former India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan on Saturday announced his retirement from both domestic and international cricket, marking the end of an illustrious career. The 38-year-old made this significant announcement through a heartfelt video message shared on his social media, expressing gratitude for the unwavering support he has received from fans throughout his journey.

Dhawan, who last played for India in the ODI series against Bangladesh in December 2022, found his place in the team usurped by the talented Shubman Gill. Despite his recent absence from the national squad, Dhawan’s contributions to Indian cricket have been substantial and memorable.

Born in Delhi, Dhawan made his international debut against Australia in an ODI at Visakhapatnam. His initial foray into international cricket was less than stellar, marked by a duck in his debut match. However, Dhawan's resilience shone through as he made a remarkable comeback in 2013. His subsequent performances across all formats solidified his position as a key player for India.

In his retirement video, Dhawan reflected on his cricketing journey with deep appreciation. “I always had one goal in mind which was to play for India, and I achieved it thanks to a lot of people. First of all, my family, my childhood coach Tarak Sinha, and Madan Sharma. Under their guidance, I learned cricket. Then my entire team with whom I played for years, got another family, fame, and everyone’s love and support. As it’s said to move ahead in the story, you need to flip over the pages. Hence, I’m also doing that. I’m announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket,” Dhawan said.

He continued, “And now when I’m bidding adieu to my cricketing journey, I have the satisfaction that I played a lot for my country. I’m really thankful to the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and DDCA (Delhi & District Cricket Association) for giving me this opportunity and all of my fans for their love and support. I just say this to myself: don’t be sad that you won’t play for your country again but always be happy that you played for your country. And it’s the biggest achievement for me that I played.”

Dhawan’s career was marked by several notable achievements. On his Test debut on March 16, 2013, he made headlines by scoring the fastest hundred on debut, reaching the milestone in just 85 balls. He also earned the prestigious ‘Golden Bat’ for being the top run-scorer in back-to-back ICC Champions Trophy tournaments in 2013 and 2017. Nicknamed ‘Mr ICC’ for his outstanding performances in ICC ODI tournaments, Dhawan was India’s highest run-scorer in the 2015 ODI World Cup.

Over his career, Dhawan played 167 ODIs, amassing 6793 runs at an average of 44.11 with a strike rate of 91.35, including seven centuries and five fifties. In T20 Internationals, he scored 1759 runs at an average of 27.92 and a strike rate of 126.36, with 11 fifties to his name. His Test career saw him accumulate 2315 runs in 34 matches at an average of 40.61, with seven centuries and five fifties.

While Dhawan is stepping away from international and domestic cricket, he will continue to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he remains an influential figure. His retirement marks the end of an era for Indian cricket, but his legacy will undoubtedly endure through his remarkable contributions to the sport.