Shikhar Dhawan Announces Retirement from International Cricket

Indian cricket’s prolific white-ball opener, Shikhar Dhawan, has officially announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 38. While stepping away from representing India, Dhawan hinted at his intention to continue participating in league cricket, most notably the Indian Premier League (IPL).

A Glittering Career in Numbers

Dhawan’s last appearance for India was in December 2022 during an One Day International (ODI) against Bangladesh. His illustrious career spans:

• 269 appearances for India
• 10,867 runs scored
• 24 centuries
• 44 half-centuries

These statistics cement his position as one of the lynchpins of Indian batting over the past decade.

Early Promise: The Under-19 World Cup

Dhawan’s journey to cricket stardom began with his remarkable performance in the 2004 Under-19 World Cup. His talent was evident as he:

• Scored three centuries
• Amassed a total of 505 runs

This tournament served as a launchpad for his future success in international cricket.

The Late Bloomer: Debut and Initial Struggles

Despite his early promise, Dhawan was a late bloomer in the international arena:

• Made his India debut in 2010 in an ODI against Australia
• Faced a setback with a two-ball duck in his first match
• Played four more ODIs against West Indies in 2011, with a highest score of 51

The Breakthrough: Test Debut and ODI Resurgence

Dhawan’s career took a dramatic turn in 2013:

• Scored the fastest century on Test debut (off 85 balls) during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia
• This explosive start in Tests led to his ODI recall

Champions Trophy 2013: The Birth of a Star

The 2013 Champions Trophy marked Dhawan’s ascension to cricket stardom:

• MS Dhoni introduced the new opening pair of Dhawan and Rohit Sharma
• Dhawan scored consecutive centuries against South Africa and West Indies
• Ended the tournament with 363 runs
• Won the Player of the Tournament award
• Contributed significantly to India winning the title for the first time

Dhawan: India’s ICC Tournament Specialist

Dhawan consistently performed exceptionally well in major ICC tournaments:

2015 World Cup

• Became India’s highest scorer with 412 runs from eight matches
• Averaged an impressive 51.5
• His knock of 137 against South Africa is considered one of his career-best innings

2017 Champions Trophy

• Continued his dominant form with 338 runs

The Formidable Opening Partnership

Dhawan, along with Rohit Sharma, formed one of India’s most successful opening pairs:

• Second-most successful opening pair in ODIs after Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly
• Accumulated 5,148 runs from 115 innings
• Averaged 45.55
• Scored 18 centuries together
• Ranks as the fourth-highest opening duo of all time