India’s veteran opener, Shikhar Dhawan, announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket on Saturday. The 38-year-old shared the emotional news on Instagram, expressing gratitude to everyone who supported him throughout his illustrious career, during which he earned numerous awards and honors.
Reflecting on his journey, Dhawan said, “As I look back, I see only memories, and ahead of me, a new life awaits. Playing for India was always my dream, and I’m grateful to many people for helping me achieve it—my family, childhood coaches, and the teammates I played with for so many years. I gained a new family, fame, and love, but it’s said that to move forward, you need to turn the page.”
He continued, “I’m retiring from international and domestic cricket. As I say goodbye to this chapter, I feel peaceful. I played a lot for my country, and instead of feeling sad about no longer representing India, I remind myself to be happy for the opportunity I had.”
Dhawan’s career was filled with effortless runs. He excelled in all formats for India, particularly in ODIs, where he played 167 matches, scoring 6,793 runs at an average of 44.1, including 17 centuries and 39 fifties. In Test cricket, he amassed 2,315 runs in 34 matches, with an average of 40.6, including seven centuries and five fifties, often forming memorable partnerships with Murali Vijay. In T20Is, he made 68 appearances, accumulating 1,759 runs at an average of 27.9, including 11 half-centuries.
On the domestic front, Dhawan played 122 First-Class matches, scoring 8,499 runs at an average of 44.26, with 25 centuries and 29 fifties. In List A cricket, he appeared in 302 matches, amassing a staggering 12,074 runs at an average of 43.90, with 30 centuries and 67 fifties to his name.
