New Delhi: India opener Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket on Saturday. Dhawan last donned the Indian colours in the ODI series against Bangladesh back in December 2022 before he was replaced by rising star Shubman Gill. The 38-year-old cricketer posted a long video message on his social media handles where he thanked all of his fans for their love and support over the years.
Debuting in 2010, Dhawan represented Team India in 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is. He amassed 2315 runs in Tests with seven centuries and five half-centuries at an average of 40.61 and a strike rate of 66.95. In the ODIs, he scored 6793 runs with the help of 17 centuries and 39 fifties as he averaged 44.11 and strike rate at 91.35. He accumulated 1759 runs in the T20Is at an average of 27.92 and a strike rate of 126.36, hitting 11 fifties.
Taking to “X” (formerly Twitter), Dhawan wrote, “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!”
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, 2024
In the video, Dhawan was quite cheered up while announcing his retirement, contrary to the emotions most of the sportspersons feel while hanging their boots. He started off by greeting everyone and said, “I’m currently standing at a place from where I look back, all I see are memories and as I look ahead, a whole world. My aim was always to play for India which indeed happened for which I thank a lot of people.”
He thanked his family, his childhood coach the late Tarak Sinha, and Madan Sharma under whom he said he learnt cricket. “Also the team (India) with which I played for years as they gave me a family, a name, and lots of love. As they say, if you have to move ahead in the story, pages need to be turned and that’s what I’m exactly going to do,” Dhawan added.
“I’m announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket. And now that I’m bidding adieu to my cricketing journey, my heart is peaceful that I played a lot for my country and I’m greatly thankful to the BCCI, DDCA, and all my fans who showered me with so much love,” Dhawan said.
He further added that he is telling himself that he doesn’t need to be sad about not being able to represent India anymore, but rather enjoy the fact that he played for the nation. “And that is something huge for me, that I played,” Dhawan concluded with folded hands as the video showed his autograph in the end with the date of India debut i.e. “October 20, 2010 – ∞” (written as such).
Gabbar, Mr. ICC, and more…
Calling time on a nearly two-decade-long sporting career, Dhawan has several accolades to his name. He was adjudged the Player of the Tournament when India won the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy for his flamboyant knocks as an opener. His POTT award is a major example of why he was widely referred to as “Mr. ICC” and the “man of the ICC events for India.” Dhawan came absolutely good in the ICC events, be it the Champions Trophy or the ODI or T20 World Cup, boasting fantastic records.
He also led the ODI and T20 sides of the Indian cricket team in 2021 of which Shubman Gill was a part. He would later lose his spot in the team to Gill as an opener. The pair of Rohit Sharma and Dhawan was well revered but as Gill shot to prominence, it was a blockade for Dhawan in the final days of his career.
Dhawan, fondly known as “Gabbar” for his epic moustache and the iconic way with which he twirled it, will be thoroughly missed on the field. Even his trademark pat on the thigh after taking a catch will be a major missing from cricket now.
Goodbye Gabbar!
Shikhar Dhawan has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. He expressed his pleasure having played for India and thanked his fans for all the love and support. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
