Shikhar Dhawan, one of India’s most prolific and stylish opening batsmen, has announced his retirement from international cricket, marking the end of an era for Indian cricket. Known for his aggressive batting style, charismatic personality and ability to deliver under pressure, Shikhar Dhawan aka Gabbar leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.
Since making his debut for India in 2010, Shikhar Dhawan has been a consistent performer across formats, particularly in One Day Internationals (ODIs). In his illustrious career, he has scored over 10,000 runs in international cricket, including 17 centuries and 39 half-centuries in ODIs.
Dhawan’s ODI career has been particularly remarkable. He averaged over 45 in ODIs, with a strike rate of nearly 94, and was especially formidable in the ICC tournaments because of which he was also called Mr. ICC. His standout performance came during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, where he was the leading run-scorer and played a crucial role in India’s victorious campaign. Dhawan’s ability to rise to the occasion in big matches earned him a reputation as one of the most reliable openers in world cricket.
In Test cricket, Dhawan had a solid, if somewhat inconsistent, career, scoring 2,315 runs at an average of 40.61, including seven centuries. His highest Test score of 190 came against Sri Lanka in 2017, showcasing his ability to dominate even in the longest format of the game.
Though he played fewer T20Is, Dhawan was still an important part of India’s limited-overs setup, contributing with quick-fire starts at the top of the order.
Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement through a video on social media platforms which he posted with the caption, “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!”
https://x.com/SDhawan25/status/1827164438673096764
Click here to watch this video directly on X
Soon his fans and people from the cricket fraternity started reacting and offered their best wishes for the new phase of Shikhar Dhawan’s life, here are some selected tweets:
BCCI:
https://x.com/BCCI/status/1827208855148724480
Sachin Tendulkar:
https://x.com/sachin_rt/status/1827330629727293617
Wasim Jaffer:
https://x.com/WasimJaffer14/status/1827184646972698717
Gautam Gambhir:
https://x.com/GautamGambhir/status/1827208820201758914
Virender Sehwag:
https://x.com/virendersehwag/status/1827213240918823136
Unmukt Chand:
https://x.com/UnmuktChand9/status/1827206087692480963
Aakash Chopra:
https://x.com/cricketaakash/status/1827193888190185956
Shreyas Iyer:
Hardik Pandya:
We wish all the best to Shikhar Dhawan!
