Shikhar Dhawan announces his Retirement from International and Domestic Cricket

Shikhar Dhawan has announced his retirement from International and Domestic cricket. The 38-year-old left-handed opener said that it is yet to decide whether he will continue in the Indian T20 League or not. The ‘Gabbar’ as known in the Indian cricket fraternity has played his last game for Team India in 2022, accumulating a total of 10,867 runs from 269 matches, having 24 tons and 44 half-centuries behind his name. 

“It’s not a tough decision for me and I am not even emotional about bidding adieu. I don’t want to cry. I have enjoyed playing cricket and it is time to rest now,” Dhawan was quoted saying to a renowned media source. 

The Southpaw made his India debut in 2010 in a One Day International match against Australia where he failed to open his account. After a year, he was again given a chance and this time as part of the four ODIs against the West Indies but there also he couldn't do much. Later in the year 2013, he left his mark, smashing a fabulous hundred off just 85 balls. 

“My Test debut is my personal favourite. I scored 187. I always used to dream of playing for my country and scripting world records. I was happy to cement my place in the Test team,” he said.

In the year 2013 CT, Dhawan smashed 363 runs and won the Player of the Tournament award as India lifted the trophy for the first time under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.

During the 2015 WC, Dhawan scored 412 runs from just 8 matches having an astonishing average of 51.5. The left-handed batter also smashed 338 runs at the 2017 CT. 

The now-Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan became the second most successful opening pair in the fifty-over format of the game after Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. The duo scored 5148 runs from 115 innings at an average of 45.55 with 18 centuries. 

In the Indian cash-rich league, Dhawan smashed 618 runs in 2020 and 587 in 2021 respectively.