India’s seasoned opener, Shikhar Dhawan, officially announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket on Saturday. The 38-year-old veteran took to Instagram to share an emotional message, marking the end of an illustrious career that has left an indelible mark on the sport.
In his heartfelt announcement, Dhawan reflected on his journey and expressed deep gratitude to those who supported him throughout his career. “I am standing at a point where when I look back, I only see memories and a new life when I look forward. It was always my dream to play for India, and I got to live it. I am thankful to a lot of people for that. First of all, my family, my childhood coaches, and then my team that I played with for so many years. I got a new family, fame, and love. But it is said that to move forward, you need to flip the pages,” Dhawan shared in a video on his official Instagram handle.
He continued, “I am announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket. As I bid farewell to my cricketing journey, I have peace in my heart. I played a lot for my country. I only say this to myself, that you don’t need to be upset about not playing for your country again, but be happy that you had the opportunity to do so.”
Dhawan’s career has been nothing short of remarkable. Known for his aggressive and effortless batting style, he made significant contributions across all formats of the game, with One Day Internationals (ODIs) being his forte. In 167 ODI appearances, the left-handed batsman amassed 6,793 runs at an impressive average of 44.1, including 17 centuries and 39 fifties.
In Test cricket, where he formed memorable partnerships with Murali Vijay, Dhawan scored 2,315 runs in 34 matches, averaging 40.6, with seven centuries and five half-centuries to his name. In T20 Internationals, he played 68 matches and scored 1,759 runs at an average of 27.9, including 11 fifties.
On the domestic front, Dhawan had an equally stellar record. In 122 First-Class matches, he accumulated 8,499 runs at an average of 44.26, with 25 centuries and 29 fifties. His List A career was even more impressive, with Dhawan playing 302 matches and scoring a staggering 12,074 runs at an average of 43.90, including 30 centuries and 67 half-centuries.
As Shikhar Dhawan steps away from the cricketing field, he leaves behind a legacy of excellence and inspiration for future generations of cricketers.
