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Shikhar Dhawan announces his retirement from both international and domestic cricket.

Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket via a social media post. Dhawan's final competitive appearance was in April, leading the Punjab Kings in IPL 2024. He retires having scored 24 centuries (17 in ODIs and seven in Tests) across 269 international matches.

In a video message, Dhawan said, "It's important to turn the page to move forward in life, and that's why I am announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket. I leave with peace in my heart, knowing that I played for India for so long. Instead of feeling sad about no longer playing for India, I choose to feel happy about having represented my country.

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, who made his India debut in 2010, retires as one of only eight ODI batters with over 5000 runs at a 40-plus average and a 90-plus strike rate (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the other Indians in the list). In all, he scored 6793 runs in 167 ODIs at an average of 44.11 and a strike rate of 91.35. His last ODI was against Bangladesh in Chattogram in December 2022. 

In 34 Tests, he scored 2315 runs at an average of 40.61, and in 68 T20Is, 1759 at a strike rate of 126.36.

Dhawan's ODI numbers towered over his records in the other two formats, even though it was in Tests when he first burst onto the scene with an 85-ball hundred against Australia in Mohali in 2013, the fastest by a debutant. He went on to make 187 in a match-winning effort.

Dhawan's career hit the high notes in 2013. That year, he made 1162 runs in 26 ODIs at an average of 50.52 and a strike rate of 97.89. The icing on the cake was his chart-topping 363 runs in five innings, including two centuries, in India's title-winning run at the Champions Trophy, which was his first ODI series after five forgettable outings across 2010 and 2011.

That tournament was the start of a glorious opening partnership with Rohit. In terms of run aggregates, the pair is the fourth-best among ODI openers, and their 18 century stands at the top are second only to Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly's 21.