August 24, 2024, will be etched deeply in the hearts of Indian cricket fans as one of the premiers and dashing opening batsmen of the team, Shikhar Dhawan bid adieu to international cricket. This decision ended one of the most illustrious over-a-decade-old innings playing cricketing careers. Dhawan is considered as hunter and aggressor of the Indian line-up, especially in the limited-overs format of the game. For more cricket news join betproexch.
A Stellar Career in Numbers
Being one of the best ODI batsmen of his generation, the majority of what Shikhar Dhawan has done was in the 50-over format of the game.
Dhawan played for India since the year 2010 and very quickly became one of the set opening batsmen for the Indian team.
In more than 167 ODIs, he had scored 6,793 runs and consumed, on average, 44.11 and a striking rate of 91.35.
In one-day Internationals, he also scored 17 centuries and 39 half centuries carving a niche for himself among the most reliable Indian batsmen in this format.
Also, he was among the fastest cricketers to score 6,000 one-day international runs in 140 games.
Dhawan also had a significant, though less extensive, presence in Test cricket. In 34 matches, he scored 2,315 runs at an average of 40.61, including 7 centuries.
His Test debut in 2013 was nothing short of spectacular, as he scored the fastest century on debut in Test history, reaching the milestone in just 85 balls against Australia.
In T20 Internationals, Dhawan’s contributions were equally valuable. He went on in 68 matches where he established 1,759 runs and an average of 27. 92 @ 126 strike rate.
While not as overt in T20s as in ODIs, his attacking flair coupled with his capacity to sheath the innings for his team was very valuable for India, particularly in the tight squeezes.
The Decision to Retire
Dhawan’s retirement, which he took to Facebook to formally declare, was a well-thought-out decision because it was time to move on and turn a new page.
“I have been telling myself not to be sad that you will not play for India anymore but to be happy that you played for it,” said Dhawan, a nature which explains the humility he had upon hanging his boot. For cricket news follow betproexch.
Shikhar Dhawan was last seen in international cricket in an ODI series against Bangladesh in December 2022.
After that, he had been slowly eased out of the team for younger generation players such as Shubman Gill.
He subsequently led the Punjab Kings in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) which was his last competitive cricket.
Fondly known as Gabbar, Dhawan’s flowing gait on the field, audacious shot-making, Tweaking the mustache, and that beaming face to the crowd and fans.
Dhawan was also most effective in batting in the ICC tournaments though he was most often India’s best player. In the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, Dhawan was the highest run-getter and played a major role in winning the Trophy for India. For the latest cricket news betproexch.
