“‘Not Tough, But…’: Shikhar Dhawan Opens Up Honestly About His Retirement Decision”
“Shikhar Dhawan officially announced his retirement from both international and domestic cricket on Saturday.”
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Shikhar Dhawan made it official on Saturday, announcing his retirement from both international and domestic cricket.The left-handed batter shared a video message on social media, where he revealed his decision and expressed gratitude to fans and cricket associations for their unwavering support. Dhawan’s last appearance for India was during the 2022 ODI series against Bangladesh.
In an interview with DikDisha News, Dhawan discussed his retirement, admitting that while it wasn’t a tough decision, it was an emotional one. “It wasn’t tough, but it is emotional — not because I’m sad, but because of the immense gratitude and love I feel. I’ve dedicated half of my life to cricket, and now it’s time to retire, or as I like to say, give ‘vishraam’ to it. I’m thoroughly enjoying the relaxation and time at home,” Dhawan shared.
He also dismissed concerns that retirement might affect his fame, confidently stating that his connection with fans goes beyond cricket. “Why would I lose my fame just because I’ve retired from cricket?” Who knows, it might even increase! I’m deeply rooted in people’s hearts, not just through cricket, but even through my Instagram reels (laughs). I’m certain that the love I receive will only continue to grow,” he added.
A proud product of the Sonnet Club and a resilient fighter from West Delhi, Dhawan represented India in 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is. However, in recent years, he fell out of favor due to inconsistent form and the rise of younger talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill.
Dhawan’s prowess shone brightest in the 50-over format, where he scored 6,793 runs at an average of 44.11, including 17 centuries and 39 fifties. He also averaged 40.61 in Tests, amassing 2,315 runs with seven centuries.
