Shikhar Dhawan, a prolific Indian opening batsman, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. Dhawan shared a heartfelt video message on social media, expressing his gratitude to his family, coaches, teammates, and fans. Additionally, he represented India in 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is, scoring over 10,000 runs across all formats.
Indian cricket star Shikhar Dhawan has officially announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The retirement brings an end to a stellar 14-year career. Dhawan is known for his explosive batting as an opener. Meanwhile, he shared the news on social media, expressing that it was time to move forward in life.
Dhawan leaves behind an impressive legacy, particularly in One Day Internationals (ODIs). He is part of an elite group of players with over 5,000 ODI runs, maintaining a batting average above 40 and a strike rate over 90. Throughout his career, he scored 24 international centuries, with 17 in ODIs and seven in Tests.
Key Achievements
- ODI Performance: Dhawan played 167 ODIs, amassing 6,793 runs at an average of 44.11. The record includes 17 centuries and 39 half-centuries. He was a crucial part of India’s ODI lineup, especially in major tournaments like the Champions Trophy, Asia Cup, and the 2015 World Cup.
- Test Career: In Test cricket, Dhawan played 34 matches, scoring 2,315 runs at an average of 40.6. His debut was memorable, scoring the fastest century by a debutant against Australia in 2013, reaching 100 runs in just 85 balls.
- T20I Career: In the shortest format, Dhawan appeared in 68 matches, scoring 1,759 runs at an average of 27.9, including 11 half-centuries.
Beyond his international career, Dhawan also captained India in several limited-overs series, filling in when regular captains were rested. He had a significant impact on domestic cricket as well. In addition, he played a pivotal role in Delhi’s Ranji Trophy victory and emerged as the top run-scorer for India at the Under-19 World Cup.
Final Words
Reflecting on his journey, Dhawan said, “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. Don’t feel sad that you won’t play for India anymore, but feel happy that you played for the country.”
Moreover, as Dhawan steps away from the game, he joins the ranks of other Indian cricket legends who have recently retired, leaving behind a lasting impact on the sport.
