In August 2024, Shikhar Dhawan retired from all Indian cricket, ending one of the most successful ODI careers for an opening batter.
Dhawan, aka ‘Mr. ICC,’ used to play well in global tournaments. When India won the Champions Trophy in 2013, he was the player-of-the-tournament as the top scorer. He also led the batting charts in 2015 ODI World Cup and 2017 Champions Trophy, averaging 65 in ICC tournaments.
In 167 ODIs, Dhawan scored 6,793 runs at 44.11, with 17 centuries and 39 half-centuries. His last international tour was in Bangladesh in 2022, where he scored only 18 runs in three innings. During that tour, Ishan Kishan, then 24, hit a record ODI double-century, becoming the fourth Indian to do so.
When Kishan scored 210 off 131 balls, with 24 fours and 10 sixes, Dhawan knew his India career was ending.
“I was scoring many 50s and 70s but when Ishan Kishan scored that 200, I felt it was the end of my career. That’s what happened. My friends came to support me, thinking I would be upset, but I was relaxed and enjoying myself, Dhawan told Hindustan Times.
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Dhawan scored 3 runs in his final match against Bangladesh, which India won by 227 runs. That was his last match for India.
When asked if any teammates contacted him after he was dropped, Dhawan, 39, said no. He added that losing his spot wasn’t a shock, as he was used to it from his early cricket days.
“No, it doesn’t happen that way (teammates messaging after someone being dropped). Maybe I spoke to Rahul (Dravid). He messaged me. Everyone is busy with their own work or tours, which is normal. We’re used to it since under 14s; this isn’t the first time I’ve been dropped or selected, Dhawan said.
