Shikhar Dhawan announces retirement from professional cricket

Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan bid farewell to his illustrious cricketing career by announcing his retirement from international and domestic cricket on Saturday morning. The left-handed opening batsman played his final competitive match in April while leading Punjab Kings in the IPL 2024. Dhawan leaves the cricketing arena with an impressive record of 24 centuries, with 17 in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and seven in Test matches, accumulated over 269 international appearances. His stylish stroke play and aggressive batting style made him a fan favorite throughout his career. Dhawan's contributions to Indian cricket will always be remembered by cricket enthusiasts worldwide.

"It's important to turn the page to move forward in life and that's why I am announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket," Dhawan said in a video message. "I am leaving with peace in my heart that I played for so long for India. I tell myself not to feel sad that you will not play for India anymore, but to feel happy that you played for your country."

Dhawan, who made his India debut in 2010, retires as one of only eight ODI batters with over 5000 runs at a 40-plus average and a 90-plus strike rate (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the other Indians in the list). In all, he scored 6793 runs in 167 ODIs at an average of 44.11 and a strike rate of 91.35. His last ODI was against Bangladesh in Chattogram in December 2022.

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In 34 Tests, he scored 2315 runs at an average of 40.61, and in 68 T20Is, 1759 at a strike rate of 126.36.

Dhawan's ODI numbers towered over his records in the other two formats, even though it was in Tests when he first burst onto the scene with an 85-ball hundred against Australia in Mohali in 2013, the fastest by a debutant. He went on to make 187 in a match-winning effort.

Dhawan's career hit the high notes in 2013. That year, he made 1162 runs in 26 ODIs at an average of 50.52 and a strike rate of 97.89. The icing on the cake was his chart-topping 363 runs in five innings, including two centuries, in India's title-winning run at the Champions Trophy, which was his first ODI series after five forgettable outings across 2010 and 2011.

That tournament was the start of a glorious opening partnership with Rohit. In terms of run aggregates, the pair is the fourth-best among ODI openers, and their 18 century stands at the top are second only to Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly's 21.

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Dhawan's glorious run extended well past the Champions Trophy 2013 as he established himself as a key member of the ODI team over the next few years. He was the highest scorer for India in each of the next few ODI tournaments: Asia Cup 2014, World Cup 2015, Champions Trophy 2017 and Asia Cup 2018.

In 2019, Dhawan's ODI career hit the first major hurdle after he was out with a thumb injury midway through the World Cup in England, soon after scoring a century against Australia at The Oval. Dhawan's contributions were rewarded with short captaincy stints during the last leg of his international career when he led India's second-string sides in the absence of regulars.

Dhawan represented Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings in the IPL, where he is the second-highest run-getter behind Kohli. His 6769 runs came across 222 matches at a strike rate of 127.14.

In domestic cricket, Dhawan's early years coincided with the Ranji Trophy success for Delhi; he was part of the title-winning team in 2007-08 when Delhi beat Uttar Pradesh at the Wankhede. He was also the top run-scorer at the Under-19 World Cup in 2004.