Shikhar Dhawan has announced his immediate retirement from international and domestic cricket. ‘
The left-hander took to social media to bid farewell to a career spanning over 13 years for India, during which he played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is, amassing 2315, 6793, and 1579 runs respectively across the three formats.
“It’s important to turn the page to move forward in a story, and in life.
That’s why I am announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket,” Dhawan said in his retirement video.
“I’ve told myself not to feel sad that you won’t play for India again, but to feel happy that you had the privilege to play for the country.”
The 38-year-old last represented India in an ODI against Bangladesh at Chattogram in December 2022, while his final T20I appearance was in Sri Lanka in July 2021.
Dhawan hadn’t played a Test match for India since 2018.
His last competitive appearance was for Punjab Kings in IPL 2024 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in April, after which an injury prematurely ended his season.
Dhawan expressed his gratitude to his family, fans, childhood coaches, and the various Indian and IPL teams he represented throughout his career.
Dhawan rose to prominence in the 2004 U-19 World Cup, scoring three centuries and accumulating 505 runs.
Alongside Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, he was part of a formidable Delhi batting lineup.
Known for his elegant cover drives and cuts, Dhawan eventually made his ODI debut for India in 2010 against Australia, though he was dismissed for a duck.
However, in March 2013, Dhawan made his Test debut against Australia at Mohali, and unlike his ODI debut, this one was unforgettable.
He smashed the fastest century on Test debut, reaching the milestone in just 85 deliveries.
Dhawan’s partnership with Rohit Sharma was crucial in India’s 2013 Champions Trophy victory in England, where he scored 363 runs, including two centuries.
One of Dhawan’s most memorable innings was his 137 against South Africa at the MCG during the 2015 Cricket World Cup, where he dismantled a formidable bowling attack.
Dhawan earned a reputation as a man for ICC events, and he started the 2019 World Cup with a century against Australia, only to be ruled out of the tournament due to a hairline fracture on his thumb.
In his IPL career, spanning 222 games, Dhawan scored 6,769 runs and won a championship with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, forming a vital partnership with David Warner.
However, as the decade progressed, his international appearances became less frequent.
Dhawan also captained India in 15 games (12 ODIs and 3 T20Is) and led two IPL franchises—Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad—in 33 matches across the IPL and the erstwhile Champions League T20.
As captain, he achieved an 8-5 win-loss record (with 2 no-results) for India, leading the team to ODI series victories against Sri Lanka in 2021, and West Indies and South Africa in 2022.
However, in franchise cricket, Dhawan struggled with the burden of captaincy, ending with 13 wins and 20 losses.
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