Shikhar Dhawan gave his 100 percent, every time he stepped onto the field. He had fun while doing so. Gritty, elegant and fun-filled, Shikhar Dhawan never missed a moment to express himself.
One of MS Dhoni’s trusted lieutenants, the left-handed opener had a thrill ride that will last long in the memories of Indian cricket fans.
In a country that has produced some of the greatest openers, Shikhar Dhawan carved his own legacy. And when he announced retirement on Saturday, August 24, he hung his boots with a sense of fulfilment and gratitude.
Dhawan was an integral part of India’s transformation period under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.
When the big guns, including Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were in the twilight of their careers, Dhawan carried forward the baton, making sure India’s openers continued to dominate world cricket.
His partnership with Rohit Sharma was one of the cornerstones of India’s success between 2013 and 2019.
𝘈𝘶𝘳 𝘺𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘺𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘥𝘪 𝘣𝘢𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘪, 𝙈𝙀𝙄𝙉 𝙆𝙃𝙀𝙇𝘼! 🇮🇳🌟#ShikharDhawan #SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/wPQuRkH1Xl
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) August 24, 2024
The Gabbar from Delhi and the Hitman from Mumbai forged one of the most successful opening partnerships for India in ODI cricket.
Shikhar Dhawan might have earned his redemption ticket in Tests after having had a wobbly start in white-ball cricket at the highest level. But, 50-over cricket was where Dhawan truly shone.
With 6793 runs at an average of over 40 and a strike rate of over 90, the Delhi batter drew the curtains on his career after having established himself as one of the modern-day masters of white-ball cricket.
Shikhar Dhawan left the stage on which he entertained and inspired with no regrets. As the prolific opener bid goodbye to the sport he loved, here are some of the highlights of his decorated career.
From the very beginning of his career, Shikhar Dhawan loved the big stage. When he was a teenager, he top-scored in the ICC U19 World Cup in 2004, amassing 505 runs, 122 runs more than the next-best — Alastair Cook.
His love affair with ICC tournaments continued until a tragic injury cut-short his stay in the ODI World Cup in 2019.
Born in Delhi, he made a name for himself in domestic cricket with impressive performances for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy and India’s U-19 team. However, his entry into international cricket was not as smooth as many had anticipated.
Dhawan made his ODI debut on October 20, 2010, against Australia in Visakhapatnam. The debut, however, was forgettable – he was bowled out for a duck by Clint McKay.
The early phase of his career was marked by inconsistency, as Dhawan struggled to convert his domestic form into success on the international stage. Between 2010 and 2011, he played sporadically and was often overshadowed by more established players.
