Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has paid tribute to Shikhar Dhawan following his retirement from all forms of the game. He mentioned that Dhawan’s retirement from cricket is a great loss to the game and said that he has “left the sport poorer than before.”
Dhawan, known for his infectious positivity and consistent performances, recently announced his retirement from domestic and international cricket, marking the end of an illustrious career that began with his international debut in 2010.
Throughout his career, the handsome left-hander became renowned for his elegant strokeplay and ability to play under pressure, particularly in ICC tournaments, earning him the nickname “Mr. ICC”.
Sunil Gavaskar pays tribute to Shikhar Dhawan after his retirement
His performances in ODI cricket were especially notable as he established himself as one of India’s most reliable opening batsmen in the format. He ended his career with over 10,000 runs across all formats for India.
However, as time went by, Dhawan’s career faced challenges. Injuries and a dip in form, coupled with the emergence of younger talent, led to his gradual exit from the Indian cricket team.
Despite these setbacks, Dhawan’s contributions to Indian cricket remained significant and his retirement marked the departure of a beloved figure in the game.
Reflecting on Dhawan’s career, the former Indian captain emphasised the difficulties that often accompany an opener’s journey, where even a few mediocre performances can result in a knockout.
For Shikhar Dhawan, injuries have become a recurring obstacle in recent years, limiting his ability to fully showcase his talent in white-ball cricket. However, Sunil Gavaskar acknowledged that Dhawan’s decision to retire was likely influenced by injuries.
Sunil Gavaskar also pointed out that the former opener might also have wanted to end his career while enjoying the game.
As Dhawan steps away from the game, his legacy as one of India’s greatest opening batsmen remains intact but his absence will undoubtedly be felt by fans and the cricketing world, the legendary batsman said.
Dhawan’s retirement impoverishes cricket: Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar: “Shikhar Dhawan’s retirement from all forms of the game will leave the sport poorer than before. The ever-smiling and ever-positive Shikhar, also fondly called ‘Gabbar’, was a player of immense talent.”
He further added: “But, as happens with opening batsmen, a short-handed series or tournament can mean the selectors swing the axe. In later years, injuries were a part of Shikhar’s career, which rarely allowed him to fully showcase his ability and probably helped him make the decision to quit the game while still enjoying being part of the circuit.”
In the end, Sunil Gavaskar highlighted the challenges of deciding when to end a playing career and said it becomes clear when the body starts signalling that it is time to stop.
The legendary cricketer has also stressed that making this decision is never easy, but when the body tells the mind that it is time, that is when the time has come.
Sunil Gavaskar also expressed his hope that Shikhar Dhawan brings the same joy and positivity to whatever he chooses to do in the next chapter of his life. Notably, Dhawan is all set to be seen in action in the upcoming LLC 2024.
