Shikhar Dhawan has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has announced his retirement from all formats of cricket on Saturday, 24 August. The left-handed batsman shared this emotional decision through his social media accounts. At 38 years old, Dhawan’s international career spanned more than 12 years, during which he played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is, amassing a total of 10,867 runs.
In a video message posted online, Dhawan expressed, “I find myself at a point in life where all I can do is look back at the memories I’ve made. It was always my dream to represent India, and achieving that dream has filled me with gratitude towards so many people—my family, my coaches Tarak Sinha and Madan Sharma, who taught me how to play cricket, and my teammates, who became like a second family to me. I gained fame, fortune, and the love of many.
“But to progress in life, one must turn the page, and that’s why I am announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket.
“As I conclude my cricketing journey, my heart is at peace, knowing that I had the privilege to play for my country. I am deeply thankful to all my fans for their unwavering support. I’ve reminded myself not to feel sorrowful about no longer playing for India but to cherish the happiness that I had the opportunity to play for my nation.”
Shikhar Dhawan made a significant impact on the international cricket scene during the 2004 ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, where he scored over 500 runs, including three centuries. Six years later, in 2010, he made his debut for India in an ODI against Australia in Visakhapatnam.
Dhawan’s Test debut came in March 2013, an unforgettable moment as he smashed the fastest century on debut, reaching the milestone in just 85 balls.
Known for his expertise in ODIs, Dhawan was instrumental in India’s victory in the 2013 Champions Trophy, where he was the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 363 runs at an average of 90.75. He continued to shine in major tournaments, including the 2014 Asia Cup, the 2015 Cricket World Cup, the 2017 Champions Trophy, and the 2018 Asia Cup.
Dhawan is one of only eight batters in the history of Men’s ODIs to have scored over 5,000 runs with an average above 40 and a strike rate exceeding 90. Among Indian batters, only Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma share this distinction with him.
Dhawan’s last appearance in an international match was in 2022, during an ODI against Bangladesh in Chattogram. His most recent competitive game took place in the 2024 IPL, where he captained Punjab Kings in April.
