Veteran Indian Opener Shikhar Dhawan Announces Retirement
Veteran Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket, bringing an end to his illustrious 14-year career. Dhawan, known for his aggressive batting style and impressive records in the ODI format, last featured for India in the ODI series against Bangladesh in December 2022.
Dhawan, who represented India in 269 international matches, finishes his career with an impressive tally of 24 centuries across formats, including 17 in ODIs and seven in Tests. He was a vital part of the Indian batting lineup, particularly in the ODI format, where he amassed over 5000 runs at a consistent average of 40-plus and a strike rate of 90-plus, cementing his status as a modern ODI great.
“I am leaving with peace in my heart that I played so long for India. I’ve told myself don’t feel sad that you won’t play for India anymore, but feel happy that you played for the country.”
The left-handed opener’s career reached its pinnacle in 2013 when he scored 1162 runs in ODIs at an average of 50.52 and a strike rate of 97.89. His standout performance came during India’s victorious campaign at the 2013 Champions Trophy, where he topped the run-scoring charts with 363 runs in five innings, including two centuries.
Dhawan’s Remarkable Partnership with Rohit Sharma
Dhawan’s remarkable partnership at the top of the order with Rohit Sharma is etched in the minds of cricket fans. The duo’s run aggregates in ODIs rank them fourth-best in the format’s history, and they are the second-most successful opening pair for India after the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.
While Dhawan’s Test debut was marked by a stunning 85-ball hundred against Australia in Mohali, it was in the ODI format where he truly shone, cementing his place as one of the finest opening batters of his era.
The retirement of Shikhar Dhawan, a stalwart of Indian cricket, marks the end of an era. His contributions to the national team, both in terms of his exceptional batting performances and his role in India’s success, will be fondly remembered by cricket enthusiasts and fans alike.
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