Shikhar Dhawan, the prolific left-handed batsman, has bid farewell to his illustrious international and domestic cricket career. The announcement, made via a heartfelt video message on social media, marks the end of an era for one of India’s most successful opening partnerships.
Dhawan’s international journey spanned over a decade, during which he played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is. In Tests, he amassed 2315 runs at an average of 40.61, including seven centuries and five fifties. In white-ball cricket, he scored 6793 runs in ODIs and 1759 runs in T20Is, averaging 44.11 and 27.92 respectively.
Dhawan’s most notable achievement was his partnership with Rohit Sharma, with whom he formed one of India’s most formidable opening pairs. Together, they shared countless memorable moments on the field, including a six-year period where they, along with Virat Kohli, scored a century of centuries across formats.
Dhawan’s retirement comes after a successful career that saw him rise to the occasion for India in numerous ICC tournaments. He was a key member of the team that won the 2013 Champions Trophy and the 2011 World Cup.
In his retirement message, Dhawan expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent India and the memories he has made along the way. He stated, “It’s important to turn the page to move forward in life and that’s why I am announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket. As I bid goodbye to my cricket journey, I have peace in my heart that I played for so long.”
Dhawan’s retirement leaves a void in the Indian cricket team, but his legacy as a prolific batsman and a true ambassador of the sport will continue to inspire generations to come.
