Shikhar Dhawan Bids Farewell to International Cricket: A Career in Review

Shikhar Dhawan, India's prolific opener, retires from international and domestic cricket at 38. With 10,867 runs across formats, Dhawan was known for his ICC tournament heroics and partnership with Rohit Sharma. Despite recent exclusions from the team, he leaves a lasting impact on Indian cricket.

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Title: "Shikhar Dhawan Bids Farewell to International Cricket: A Career in Review"

Shikhar Dhawan, one of India's most prolific white-ball openers, has announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket at the age of 38. The left-handed batsman, who last represented India in December 2022, concludes his career with an impressive tally of 10,867 runs from 269 appearances across formats, including 24 centuries and 44 half-centuries.

In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, Dhawan expressed contentment with his decision, stating, "It's not like it is a tough decision for me. I am not even emotional. I don't want to cry or something. But mostly it's gratitude and love."

Dhawan's journey to cricket stardom began with his outstanding performance in the 2004 U-19 World Cup. However, it wasn't until 2013 that he truly announced his arrival on the international stage, scoring the fastest century on Test debut against Australia in Mohali.

His ODI career took flight during the 2013 Champions Trophy, where he formed a formidable opening partnership with Rohit Sharma. This duo went on to become India's second-most successful opening pair in ODIs, amassing 5,148 runs in 115 innings.

Dhawan's prowess in ICC tournaments became legendary, with stellar performances in the 2015 World Cup and 2017 Champions Trophy. His last century for India, a courageous 117 against Australia in the 2019 World Cup while battling injury, exemplified his fighting spirit.

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Despite his impressive record, Dhawan's international career began to wind down in recent years. The emergence of younger talents like Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan, coupled with concerns about his strike rate, gradually pushed him out of contention in both T20Is and ODIs.

As Dhawan steps away from international cricket, he leaves behind a legacy as one of India's most impactful openers, particularly in white-ball cricket. While he hints at potentially continuing in league cricket, his departure marks the end of an era for Indian cricket.