The dashing left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement from international cricket on Saturday (August 24). During his decorated international career, Dhawan emerged as one of the most prolific opening batsmen in the history of Indian cricket.
The 34-year-old played 38 Tests, 167 ODIs and 68 T20Is for India, and scored close to 11,000 runs in international cricket. Dhawan retires as one of the modern-day ODI greats with 6,793 runs at an average of 44.11. He scored 17 hundreds and 39 fifties in ODIs.
Dhawan played his last international match against Bangladesh in December 2022. However, with the decline of Dhawan and the emergence of Shubman Gill, the former was dropped from the Indian ODI squad.
Following his retirement, social media was filled with tweets from his fans, congratulating him and thanking him for proving that he was such an asset to the Indian team. Dhawan formed a successful opening partnership with Rohit Sharma at the top, resulting in many wins for India.
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Here’s how fans and players reacted to Shikhar Dhawan’s retirement:
A man for the big tournaments. He never got the plaudits he deserved, but knowing him, he didn’t care who got the plaudits as long as the team won. A team man through and through. Congratulations on a stellar career and all the best for your second inning. @SDhawan25 🤗 image.twitter.com/Y4fMBbIIfR
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) August 24, 2024
Shikhar Dhawan has announced his retirement from international cricket.
Thank you, Mr. ICC. 🥹❤️ image.twitter.com/rLNimVKxFF
-Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 24, 2024
SHIKHAR DHAWAN RETIRED FROM INTERNATIONAL CRICKET….!!!!
– An icon of Indian cricket. Thanks for the memories 🇮🇳 image.twitter.com/xPC6kCXEGw
— Johns (@CricCrazyJohns) August 24, 2024
Shikhar Dhawan said, “I hope Zoravar gets to know about my retirement, but I would also like Zoravar to remember me as a good human being and how much I loved him.”
– With a father’s heart, Gabbar is excited today. 🥹 image.twitter.com/eBDXS2x5dx
-Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 24, 2024
The trio is officially 1 down for good
The best top order of our generation.Happy retirement #ShikharDhawan ❤️ image.twitter.com/OTVMJGZOjn
-Shivani (@meme_ki_diwani) August 24, 2024
The BCCI attempted to replace the #ShikharDhawan but no one can match it😎🔥
Man of great events
The man of ICC tournamentsBarge bolt image.twitter.com/pIetyGXANC
—Jashwanth Swaroop (@Jashwanth__S) August 24, 2024
VIRAT KOHLI 🤝 ROHIT SHARMA 🤝 SHIKHAR DHAWAN.
The GOAT trio in the history of ODI cricket, now Shikhar Dhawan has retired. 🥺❤️ image.twitter.com/9ICv0Wins6
— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) August 24, 2024
Sachin Tendulkar ❌
Sourav Ganguly ❌
Virender Sehwag ❌
Rohit Sharma ❌
Shikhar Dhawan ✅He is the only Indian opener to have scored a hundred ODIs in all SENA countries ✅
Happy Retirement image.twitter.com/HQqSLVIbrv
— Shebas (@Shebas_10dulkar) August 24, 2024
AN ICONIC SCORECARD IN THE ODI.
– Shikhar Dhawan will be truly missed. 💔 image.twitter.com/0Gn7sWOOXh
— Johns (@CricCrazyJohns) August 24, 2024
Shikhar Dhawan has brought his 14-year international career to a close by announcing his retirement via a social media post 💔
One of my favorite gubbar celebrations from the past. @SDhawan25 image.twitter.com/g1BhUL62oX– Kashif Malik (@SportsK89857) August 24, 2024
Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement from international cricket 🏏
ODI – 6793 runs
Test – 2315 runs
T20I – 1759 runs
IPL – 6768 runsOne of the most elegant left-handed batsmen in India 🇮🇳
Happy retirement @SDhawan25#ShikharDhawan image.twitter.com/Mfwss2mZDw
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) August 24, 2024
Rohit Sharma 🤝 Shikhar Dhawan as opening pair in ODI:
– 117 entries
– 5193 races
– 45.15 average
– 18 hundreds
– 15 fiftiesONE OF THE BEST OPENING PAIRS IN ODI HISTORY 🥶 image.twitter.com/bvxQ5OqGdY
— Johns (@CricCrazyJohns) August 24, 2024
Shikhar Dhawan in ICC tournaments
Shikhar Dhawan has a great track record in ICC tournaments. In 2013, he played a key role in India lifting the ICC Champions Trophy with 363 runs in five innings, at an average of 90.75 and a strike rate of 101.39. He was the leading run-scorer in the competition.
His record in major tournaments like World Cups was also brilliant. The left-hander scored 537 runs in 10 World Cup matches at an average of 53.70 and a strike rate of 94.21. Interestingly, Dhawan scored four fifty-plus runs in World Cups, including three hundreds.
At one point in time, India’s top three players – Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – were known to be the best in the world. All three of them wreaked havoc on the minds of opponents and could chase down any target. However, Dhawan’s retirement brought an end to this era.