Indian batter Shikhar Dhawan announces retirement from international, domestic cricket

Veteran Indian batter Shikhar Dhawan has announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket thus droppingcurtains on a two-decade-long career. The announcement was made on Saturday (Aug 24) with Dhawan,38, bowing out as one of India’s most reliable assets in the International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments. However, it is likely that Dhawan could still continue his Indian Premier League (IPL) career where he represented the Punjab Kings in the 2024 edition.

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

Dhawan announces international retirement

“I always had one goal in mind that was to play for India and I achieved it thanks to a lot of people. First of all my family, my childhood coach Tarak Sinha and Madan Sharma, under their guidance, I learnt cricket. Then my entire team with whom I played for years, got another family, fame and everyone’s love and support. As it’s said that to move ahead in the story you need to flip over the pages. Hence, I’m also doing that, I’m announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket," said Dhawan in the video.

“And now when I’m bidding adieu to my cricketing journey, I have the satisfaction that I played a lot for my country. I’m really thankful to the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and DDCA (Delhi & District Cricket Association) for giving me this opportunity and all of my fans for their love and support. I just say this to myself that don’t be sad that you won’t play for your country again but always be happy that you played for your country. And it’s the biggest achievement for me that I played,” he added.

Having last represented India in December 2022 against Bangladesh in Chattogram, Dhawan was out of plans after the emergence of Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan as openers for India alongside Rohit Sharma. He also captained India on several occasions when players from the senior team were rested or not available. His last international match for India against Bangladesh saw Ishan score a double hundred, which all but ended his career.

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Dhawan was the Player of the Tournament in the 2013 Champions Trophy where India won the title comprehensibly. The title was also India’s last ICC tournament win at senior level until the recent success at the T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. In total, he represented India in 167 ODIs and scored 6,793 runs at an average of 44.11 and a strike rate of 91.35 notching up seven hundreds and five fifties.

He also played 68 T20Is and scored 1759 runs at an average of 27.92 and a strike rate of 126.36 registering 11 fifties. In the 34 Test matches, Dhawan scored 2,315 runs at an average of 40.61 with seven hundreds and five fifties to his name.