Star Opener Shikhar Dhawan Retires from International, Domestic Cricket

New Delhi: A star opener of team India, Shikhar Dhawan, announced his retirement from both international and domestic cricket on Saturday.

The 38-year-old batter took to Instagram to share an emotional video message to announce his retirement decision. He thanked everyone who supported him in his remarkable cricket career.

In the message, he said, “I am standing at a point where when I look back, I only see memories and a new life when I look forward. It was always my dream to play for India, and I got to live it. I am thankful to a lot of people for that. First of all, my family, my childhood coaches and then my team that I played with for so many years. I got a new family, fame and love. But it is said that to move forward, you need to flip the pages.”

“I am announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket. As I bid farewell to my cricketing journey, I have peace in my heart. I played a lot for my country. I only say this to myself, that you don’t need to be upset about not playing for your country again, but be happy that you had the opportunity to do so,” he added.

Dhawan represented India across all formats, but he shined in ODIs.

In 167 appearances in ODIs, he scored 6,793 runs at an average of 44.1, including 17 centuries and 39 fifties.

In Test cricket, he garnered 2,315 runs in 34 matches at an average of 40.6. His Test career had seven tons and five half-centuries.

In the T20I format, Dhawan made 68 appearances and scored 1,759 runs at an average of 27.9, including 11 fifties.