Shikhar Dhawan, one of India’s top white-ball openers, has officially retired from international cricket at the age of 38. While stepping back from representing India, Dhawan has hinted at continuing his career in league cricket, particularly in the IPL.
Dhawan last represented India in December 2022 during an ODI against Bangladesh. Over his career, he scored 10,867 runs in 269 matches, including 24 centuries and 44 fifties, making him a key player for India over the past decade.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Dhawan expressed that his decision wasn’t difficult or emotional. He shared his feelings of gratitude and love for the sport, stating that after spending most of his life playing cricket, he now feels it’s the right time to take a break from both international and domestic cricket.\
Shikhar Dhawan Retirement
Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan officially retired from both domestic and international cricket on Saturday, August 24. Dhawan’s last appearance for India was in the ODI series against Bangladesh in December 2022, after which Shubman Gill replaced him in the team.
At 38 years old, Dhawan shared a heartfelt video on his social media platforms, expressing gratitude to his fans for their unwavering support throughout his career.
Hailing from Delhi, Dhawan made his international debut in an ODI against Australia in Visakhapatnam, but his start was far from ideal, as he was dismissed for a duck in just two balls. Despite these early setbacks, Dhawan made a strong comeback in 2013 and secured his spot in the Indian team across all formats with outstanding performances.
In his farewell video, Dhawan reflected on his journey, saying, “My dream was always to play for India, and I achieved that with the help of many people. I owe it to my family and my childhood coaches, Tarak Sinha and Madan Sharma, who guided me in cricket. My teammates became like a second family, and I’m grateful for the fame and love I received. As the story goes, to move forward, you must turn the page. So, I’m turning the page and announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket.”
As he bid farewell to cricket, Dhawan expressed contentment with his career, adding, “I’m proud to have played extensively for my country, and I’m deeply thankful to the BCCI and DDCA for the opportunities they provided. To my fans, thank you for your love and support. I remind myself not to be sad about not playing for India anymore, but to be happy that I had the honor of doing so. Playing for India is my greatest achievement.”
As I close this chapter of my cricketing journey, I carry with me countless memories and gratitude. Thank you for the love and support! Jai Hind! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/QKxRH55Lgx
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) August 24, 2024Also Read: Valentina Petrillo Becomes First Openly Transgender Athlete at Paralympics
Shikhar Dhawan Cricket Career
Shikhar Dhawan made history on his Test debut on March 16, 2013, by scoring the fastest century ever for a debutant, reaching 100 runs in just 85 balls. His incredible performance continued as he won the prestigious ‘Golden Bat’ award for being the highest run-scorer in both the 2013 and 2017 editions of the Champions Trophy.
Known as ‘Mr. ICC’ for his exceptional contributions to India in ICC ODI tournaments, Dhawan was also the top run-scorer for India in the 2015 ODI World Cup.
Throughout his career, Dhawan played 167 One Day Internationals (ODIs), scoring 6,793 runs with an impressive average of 44.11 and a strike rate of 91.35, including seven centuries and 39 fifties. In T20 Internationals, he appeared in 68 matches, amassing 1,759 runs at an average of 27.92 and a strike rate of 126.36, with 11 half-centuries to his credit.
Dhawan also excelled in Test cricket, scoring 2,315 runs in 34 matches, with an average of 40.61, including seven centuries and five fifties. After retiring from international and domestic cricket, he remains active in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
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Shikhar Dhawan Retirement FAQs
Q.1. When did Shikhar Dhawan retire from international cricket?
Ans. Shikhar Dhawan retired from international cricket on August 24, 2024.
Q.2. How many runs did Shikhar Dhawan score in his international career?
Ans. Dhawan scored 10,867 runs in 269 matches, including 24 centuries and 44 fifties.
Q.3. What was Shikhar Dhawan’s fastest century in Test cricket?
Ans. Dhawan made the fastest century on his Test debut, reaching 100 runs in just 85 balls on March 16, 2013.
Q.4. Will Shikhar Dhawan continue playing cricket after retirement?
Ans. Yes, Dhawan has hinted at continuing his career in league cricket, particularly in the IPL.
Q.5. Why did Shikhar Dhawan decide to retire from international cricket?
Ans. Dhawan felt it was the right time to step back and expressed gratitude for his career, mentioning the need to turn the page after a long and successful journey.
