Team's Disappointment Turns to Delight as Shikhar Dhawan's 'Misbehavior' Earns Him the Nickname 'Gabbar'

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New Delhi: Shikhar Dhawan, the renowned Indian opening batter, has garnered much attention for his exceptional performances on the cricket field. Apart from his remarkable skills, he is also widely known by the nickname "Gabbar," a moniker that resonates with his fans. Interestingly, Shikhar Dhawan himself is quite fond of being called Gabbar and has embraced it with open arms. One of the reasons behind this nickname is Dhawan's unique style of celebration on the cricket field, which has gained immense popularity amongst the fans. Whenever he scores a century or takes a spectacular catch, Dhawan indulges in a celebratory gesture reminiscent of playing Kabaddi. He slaps his thigh with one hand while pointing towards the audience with the other, creating a visual spectacle that is often the highlight of the match. So, how did Dhawan acquire the name Gabbar? The story behind it dates back to his early days in domestic cricket when he played for Delhi. Dhawan's teammates noticed his resemblance to the iconic Bollywood character Gabbar Singh from the movie "Sholay." The character, played by Amjad Khan, had a distinctive hairstyle and an imposing presence. Dhawan's teammates were amused by the similarities and started calling him Gabbar in a light-hearted manner. The name quickly caught on, and even Dhawan found it amusing and endearing. As he climbed the ladder of success and made a name for himself in the Indian cricket team, the nickname continued to accompany him. Today, Gabbar has become synonymous with Dhawan, with fans across the country referring to him by this beloved moniker. The Gabbar persona perfectly aligns with Dhawan's playing style, characterized by aggression, flamboyance, and a fearless approach. His blistering performances at the top of the order have turned heads and won him a legion of fans who eagerly anticipate his explosive batting displays. In conclusion, Shikhar Dhawan, fondly known as Gabbar, has earned both the nickname and the admiration of fans through his extraordinary skills and unique celebrations on the cricket field. The story behind the name is a testament to Dhawan's charismatic presence and his ability to capture the imagination of cricket enthusiasts across the nation.

The story of Shikhar Dhawan’s naming is related to the beginning of his career. It started when he used to play during the Ranji Trophy. This left-handed batsman himself revealed this in comedian Kapil Sharma’s show. Dhawan said, ‘People call me Gabbar because when I used to play in the Ranji Trophy, I used to field at silly points. Meanwhile, if the other team’s partnership is formed, then all the boys become very down at that time. No one is making any sound then. In such a situation, I try to keep doing something or the other. I used to sit at a silly point. The bowler bowled the ball, meanwhile, I used to tell them loudly – ‘Bahut Yaarana Hai’, ‘Swallow’. Suddenly everyone would start looking at me. That is why the coach named me Gabbar. This keeps the energy intact.

Shikhar Dhawan’s career is very amazing. Actually, Shikhar Dhawan likes the film Sholay very much. He often used to speak dialogues from the film Sholay on the field. This is the reason why Dhawan’s coach named him Gabbar. Shikhar Dhawan started his international career in 2010 with an ODI match against Australia. Under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, he was successful in becoming a part of the T20 team in 2011 and the Test team in 2013. During his career, Shikhar Dhawan scored 2315 runs in 58 innings of 34 Tests at an average of 40. He has 6793 runs in 167 ODIs at an average of 44. At the same time, he scored 1,759 runs in 68 T20 Internationals.