In a heartfelt and emotional announcement, Indian cricket legend Shikhar Dhawan has officially retired from both international and domestic cricket, marking the end of an illustrious career that has spanned over a decade.
The 38-year-old left-handed batter, known for his aggressive style and match-winning performances, shared the news with his fans via a poignant video message on social media, reflecting on his journey and expressing gratitude to all those who supported him along the way.
Dhawan’s announcement began with a powerful statement: “I only had one dream, and that was to play for India, and I even achieved that.”
His words resonated deeply with fans and the cricketing community, as he acknowledged the invaluable support of his family, his childhood coach, and the many teammates who became like a second family to him over the years.
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my teammates with whom I’ve shared the cricket field for so many years. I gained recognition, fame, and the unwavering love of fans,” Dhawan said with heartfelt emotion.
“As the saying goes, sometimes you have to turn the page to move forward. So, I’m doing just that by announcing my retirement from both international and domestic cricket.”
Reflecting on his career, Dhawan expressed a sense of peace and fulfillment, knowing that he had given his all to the sport he loved.
“Now that I am bidding farewell to my cricket journey, my heart is at peace knowing that I played for my country,” he added.
Shikhar Dhawan made his international debut in 2010 against Australia in Visakhapatnam, and since then, he has been a pillar of the Indian cricket team, amassing over 10,000 runs across all formats.
His remarkable career includes 24 centuries — 17 in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and seven in Test matches.
One of the highlights of Dhawan’s career was his role in India’s triumphant 2013 ICC Champions Trophy campaign under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.
Dhawan was the tournament’s leading run-scorer, accumulating 363 runs in five matches at an extraordinary average of 90.75, including two centuries and a fifty.
As Dhawan turns the page on this chapter of his life, his legacy as one of India’s finest opening batters will undoubtedly endure.
His contributions to Indian cricket, both on and off the field, will be remembered for generations to come.
