Dhawan introduced his retirement in a put up on social media.In a video message, Dhawan mentioned, “It is very important flip the web page to maneuver ahead in life and that is why I’m asserting my retirement from worldwide and home cricket… I’m leaving with peace in my coronary heart that I performed for therefore lengthy for India. I inform myself to not really feel unhappy that you’ll not play for India anymore, however to really feel completely satisfied that you just performed on your nation.”Though making debut for the senior males’s Indian workforce in 2010, Dhawan made his first mark in worldwide cricket in 2013, in his Check debut in opposition to the mighty Australians in Mohali. He scored an 85-ball hundred, quickest by a debutant, and went on to attain 187 runs within the innings.
Nevertheless, his most stellar profession stats got here in One Day Internationals (ODIs). In 164 innings of 167 ODIs, Shikhar scored 6,793 runs at a formidable common of 44.11 and with a strike fee of 91.35. He turned the second-fastest Indian to attain 6000 runs in ODIs, solely behind Virat Kohli. Dhawan achieved this feat in solely 143 matches. He retires as one among solely eight batters who’ve amassed over 5000 runs within the ODIs whereas sustaining a median above 40 and a strike fee exceeding 90.
However as he introduced his retirement after being dropped from the Indian workforce for over a yr and light away unnoticed, the query that is still is: As soon as thought-about a modern-day nice, what would be the legacy of Shikhar Dhawan? What ‘Gabbar’ of Indian cricket might be remembered for? The reply lies in his constant and invaluable efficiency in ICC tournaments, notably ICC ODI occasions, World cup and Champions trophy.
2004 Below-19 World cup: Early indicators
Lengthy earlier than making debut for the senior India workforce, Shikhar showcased his expertise at Below-19 degree. On the Below-19 World cup in Bangladesh in 2004, Dhawan completed as the best run-getter within the match. He scored 505 runs with a strike fee of 93.51 and a median of 84.16.
Dhawan hit a complete of three centuries and a half-century within the match and, though India misplaced to Pakistan within the semi-finals, he was named as Participant of the Match. With 505 runs, Dhawan held the document of most runs in a single version of Below-19 World cup till 2022, when South Africa’s Dewald Brevis broke it by scoring yet one more run.
ICC Champions Trophy, 2013: The making of Shikhar Dhawan
England & Wales hosted the Champions trophy in 2013. Earlier than the Champions trophy, Dhawan performed 5 ODIs for India between 2010 and 2011, having scored a mere 69 runs. Nevertheless, his terrific efficiency in Check matches in opposition to Australia, in 2013, received him his place again into the ODI aspect.
Stats sensible, 2013 was Dhawan’s finest yr in ODIs as he scored 1162 runs in 26 matches at a median of fifty.52 with the strike fee of 97.89. So he did not simply rating runs, he scored them shortly. The cherry on high was his efficiency in 2013 CT.
After 2011, Dhawan received again into the ODI aspect within the 2013 Champions Trophy, as he was entrusted with the accountability to open for India within the Champions Trophy. He grabbed the chance with each palms and scored 363 runs, most within the match, in simply 5 outings.
Dhawan started his marketing campaign with consecutive centuries in opposition to South Africa and West Indies, respectively. He then scored 48 in opposition to Pakistan, 68 in opposition to Sri Lanka, and within the rain-affected finals in opposition to host England he performed a match-winning knock, scoring 31 off 24 balls.
His finest knock got here within the opening match of India in opposition to Proteas in Cardiff, the place he smashed the likes of Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Rory Kleinveldt, and Ryan McLaren throughout the bottom, and scored his maiden ODI century. He finally received out on 114, which got here off in simply 94 balls with one six and twelve fours.
With a median of 90.75 and strike fee of 101.39, Dhawan was chosen because the player-of-the-tournament.
After amassing the player-of-the-tournament award, Dhawan mentioned, “I would dreamt of this, I am actually proud of it … The bouncy tracks swimsuit my sport. I labored arduous in observe and within the warm-up video games. It makes it extra particular as a result of I used to be out of the aspect for a couple of years.”
ICC World Cup 2015: The rise and rise of Dhawan
As he turned a key participant in India’s ODI set-up following his sensible efficiency in 2013 Champions trophy, Dhawan continued his good kind in ODI World cup of 2015.
He began his marketing campaign on a excessive be aware, scoring 72 runs in opposition to arch-rivals Pakistan in India’s opening match at Adelaide Oval. He additionally scored 2 centuries within the match, one in opposition to South Africa at Melbourne Cricket Floor (MCG) and one other in opposition to Eire.
His most superb and nice knock of the match got here in opposition to South Africa, once more, at MCG. In all three earlier encounters that India had with SA in World cups (1992, 1999, 2011), they had been thrashed by the Proteas. Within the 2015 World cup additionally, South Africa had a terrifying line-up with the likes of Steyn, Morkel, Imran Tahir, AB de Villiers, Faf, Hashim Amla, and de Kock within the workforce.
When India elected to bat first, it wanted to place strain on SA immediately. However Rohit Sharma received run out for a duck within the third over. The event was large, and the workforce was beneath strain. Dhawan stood as much as the event, he took on all of the South African bowlers and constructed essential partnerships with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane.
Dhawan scored 137 runs hitting 18 boundaries throughout his knock, together with two sixes. India emerged victorious in opposition to South Africa, for the primary time in World cups, by 130 runs.
Shikhar was India’s high scorer within the match with 412 runs in 8 matches, he scored them at a median of 51.50.
ICC Champions Trophy 2017: Onslaught continues
Shikhar’s bat continued to wreak havoc on opposition groups in Champions trophy 2017. Dhawan’s stellar efficiency within the Champions Trophy 2017 was a continuation of his kind from the earlier version. He began the match with a stable 68 in opposition to Pakistan within the opening match.
Within the following sport in opposition to Sri Lanka, Dhawan showcased his batting expertise by scoring an excellent century, scoring 125 runs. He continued his good kind in opposition to South Africa, contributing a invaluable 78.
With 338 runs in 5 innings at a median of 67.60, Dhawan emerged as the highest run getter within the match, which earned him the golden bat award for the second time in a row.
ICC World Cup 2019: The final dance
India started its World cup marketing campaign on a optimistic be aware, comfortably rising victorious in opposition to South Africa within the first group match. The following match was in opposition to Australia at The Oval. This match was important contemplating the truth that Australia ended India’s World cup 2015 marketing campaign within the semi-final.
In opposition to a formidable bowling line-up comprising Starc, Coulter-Nile, and Pat Cummins, Dhawan exhibited the batting master-class of the best order and scored an excellent century. He went on to attain 117 runs off 109 balls, hitting 16 fours throughout his innings, as India defeated Australia by 36 runs.
The century in opposition to Australia proved to be his final outing for India in ICC occasions, as he was dominated out for the remainder of the match resulting from an damage.
An undisputable champion of ICC ODI occasions
As Shikhar Dhawan determined to hold his boots, it’s arduous to withstand the truth that he has been an absolute clutch participant for India so far as ICC ODI occasions are involved.
Shikhar Dhawan’s efficiency in ICC 50-over tournaments, which embody ODI World Cups and Champions Trophies, has been distinctive. Within the 20 innings he performed in these tournaments, he scored six centuries and crossed the 50-run mark on ten events.
Dhawan’s common in these tournaments is the best among the many 51 batters who’ve scored a minimal of 1000 runs, barely surpassing Virat Kohli’s common of 64.55. The listing contains the likes of Sir Vivian Richards, Saeed Anwar, and Kane Williamson.
When contemplating his performances in World Cups individually, Dhawan maintained a median of 53.70 throughout ten innings. His Champions Trophy document is much more outstanding, with a median of 77.88 over the identical variety of innings.
